PASSAGES 

IN THE 

LIFE AND MINISTRY 

OF 

ELBERT QSBORN, 

An Itinerant Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
ILLUSTRATING- 

THE PROVIDENCE AND GRACE OF GOD. 
tUritten bg himself. 

THIRD THOUSAND. 
NEW-YORK: 

. PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, AT THE CONFER- 
ENCE OFFICE, 200 MULBERRY-STREET. 
Joseph Longking, Printer. 
1853. 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by 
Elbert Osborn, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of 
the Southern District of New-York. 



Dww Theol. Sodu 



RECOMMENDATIONS . 



From Rev. Edwin E. Griswold, Pastor of the M. E. 
Church in Mulberry-street, New- York : — 

" Dear Brother — I have read your manuscript 
with much satisfaction. It is full of incident, and suffi- 
ciently interspersed with brief and pointed practical 
observations. If published, I think it will be very useful 
to the humble followers of Christ. 

' ; E. E. Griswold." 

" We fully concur in the opinion above expressed by 
Brother Griswold : 

" W. C. Hoyt, 
" Pastor of the York-street M. E. Church, Brooklyn." 

" T. Benedict, 
" Late Pastor of the M. E. Church in Ferry-street, Albany/' 

"P. Chamberlin, 
"Pastor of the Second-street M. E. Church, New-York." 

"B. Creagh, 

"Pastor of the Allen-street M. E. Church, New-York." 

" 0. V. Ammerman, 
t* Pastor of the Bedford-street ML E. Church, New- York." 

"John A. Sillick, 

" Pastor of the 1st Mariner's M. E. Church, New-York." 

t; D. Stocking, 
" Pastor of the Jane-street M. E. Church, New-York." 

" Thomas Macfarlan, 
" Local Elder in the Seventh-street M. E. Church, N. York." 

" Julius Field, 
M Pastor of the Norfolk-street Church, New- York." 



4 



RE C OMME ND ATI O NS . 



" I have read Brother Osborn's book, and believe it is 
adapted to do good. 

" D. W. Clark, 
"Pastor of the Sullivan-street M. E. Church, New-York." 

" I concur in the above. 

" D. Smith, 

u Pastor of the Greene-street M. E. Church, New- York." 

From the Rev. George Coles, formerly Assistant 
Editor of the Christian Advocate and Journal, now 
Pastor of the M. E. Church in Hudson, N. Y. 

" I have read the entire manuscript entitled, ' Passages 
in the Life and Ministry of Elbert Osborn, an Itinerant 
Minister of the Methodist E. Church, &c. ; and I hesitate 
not to say that, as a true and faithful narrative of God's 
dealings with one whose sole desire seems to have been 
to do the will of God. it is entitled to the fullest confi- 
dence of any one into whose hands it may fall. With a 
single eye to the glory of God in every line, the author, 
with a beautiful simplicity and unwavering truthfulness, 
traces those passages in his past life which strikingly 
illustrate the grace and providence of God." 

« G. Coles." 

From John M. Howe, M. D., New- York. 
" I concur in the opinions expressed by the Rev. Geo. 
Coles and the Rev. E. E. Griswold, and heartily desire 
that the book may be extensively circulated and read, 
believing that it will be conducive in cultivating among 
professing Christians a continued and unwavering trust 
in the providence and grace of God. 

" John M. Howe." 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L 

Birthplace — Parents — Instance of Yankee ingenuity in 
1686 — Death of an uncle in battle — Timothy D wight — 
Youthful folly and sin — Death of a brother — Heman 
Humphrey — Seth Crowell — Surprise in a Methodist 
meeting — Zalmon Lyon — A class meeting — Author's 
conversion — Jonathan Lyon and N. W. Thomas — Au- 
thor unites with the church in early life — The first Me- 
thodist church in New-England — Quarterly meeting 
there — Books read in childhood — Billy Hibbard and 
Isaac Candee — Camp meeting — Aaron Hunt — Arnold 
Scholefield — John Russel — Nathan Emery — D. Austin, 
a Presbyterian minister — Revival — Thomas Thorp li- 
censed to preach — Death — Alfred Bronson — Mr. Crow- 
ell on Reading circuit — Coles Carpenter — Jabez Tred- 
well converted when seven years old — Becomes a minis- 
ter—Dies shouting — Elijah Woolsey — Henry Eames, 
and his pious father — Mrs. Eames' usefulness — Nathan 
Bangs presiding elder in 1813 — English minister at 
quarterly meeting — A great blessing received by faith — 
Temptation — Amusements — E. Washburn and R. Har- 
ris — Good class-leader — His death — All-day preaching — 
Dictionary of the Bible — Revival in Reading — E. Wool- 
sey useful to the author — Exercises on the subject of 
preaching — Impediment of speech — Samuel Bushnell — 
His death — Samuel Merwin — His remarks in love-feast 



6 



CONTENTS. 



— A religious newspaper in 1816 — Duty presented — Se- 
vere trials — Encouragement — Bishop George — Effect of 
his preaching — James Coleman — His labors in Canada 
— Death — Author remarkably blessed — Begins to speak 
for God — Reads the " Saints' Everlasting Rest " — Laban 
Clark and Phineas Cook — Magazine useful to the au- 
thor — Application for license to exhort — L. Clark signs 
his license Page 9 

CHAPTER II. 

Appointed class-leader — Great cross — Quarterly con- 
ference — Original anecdote of Dr. Clarke — Camp meet- 
ings on Long Island in 1821 and 1822 — Ministers who 
attended— J. Soule — P. P. Sandford— W. Thacher— H. 
Bangs — J. J. Matthias — M. Richardson — S. Martindale 
— J. N. Maffitt — Sinners awakened — Sermons of Lewis 
Pease and William Ross — Many converted — Affecting 
interview — A great change — Happy meeting — Recom- 
mended for license — Preaches twice on trial — Licensed 
by S. Merwin in the district conference — Early repulse 
— Some fruit — Labors in various places — Thoughts of 
traveling — Samuel Cochran — Some discouragements — 
Sent by S. Merwin to Durham circuit — Heavy cross at 
a watch-night — Sent to Amenia — Trials — Support — 
Admitted on probation — Appointed to Gosh en circuit 69 

CHAPTER III. 

Journey to Goshen — A man awakened — Camp meet- 
ing — Mrs. Elvira Stillman eminently holy — Tract — 
Grave of Rev. Gad Smith — His usefulness — Deceased 
brother — And nephew, Gad N. Smith — Charles Sher- 
man licensed to preach — His pious father — Death of 
father and son — Revival — Course of study — Memoir of 



CONTENTS. 



7 



Bramwell — Its influence — Reappointed to Goshen cir- 
circuit — A. Scholefield — A kind colleague — Camp meet- 
ing at Burlington — Pursuit of a stranger — His conver- 
sion — Subsequently becomes a minister — Camp meeting 
in Canaan — J. B. Husted — Account of the hemlock 
preacher — Camp meeting at Nassau — Bishop George in 
the prayer meeting — Powerful exhortation — The love- 
feast — Sent to Dutchess circuit — Peter Eighmey — James 
P. Horton— His piety, zeal, and singular expressions — 
His last exhortation to the author — Receives a message 
for Mr. Wesley — Visit to Alpheus Jewett, in Sharon — 
Journey to conference in Troy — Examination — Ordina- 
tion — The bishop's pathetic address — His remarks in 
conference — Burlington circuit — Colleagues — Revival — 
Marriage — Camp meetings — Young man converted, 
now a presiding elder in New-Jersey — Conference in 
1826 — Joel Ketchum — His useful conversation on secret 
prayer — Elijah Chichester — Deep snows — Father's death 

Page 93 

CHAPTER IV, 

Ordained elder in 1827 — Sent to Granville circuit — 
Preaches in Granville, Blanford, Chester, Westfield, 
Peeding-hills, Southwick, Suffield, Windsor, Winton- 
bury, Granby, &c. — Visit to the state prison — Methodist 
religious papers — Davis Stocking joins society — Li- 
censed to exhort — Now a minister — Alden S. Cooper — 
Edwin E. Griswold — His first license to preach — Enters 
the traveling connection — Saybrook platform — Saybrook 
camp meeting — An instance of powerful awakening — 
Converted sailor — Revival — Illness of A. Scholefield — 
T. Merritt— W. Eisk — His labors in the temperance 
cause — His affability — Visit to a murderer — Happy 



8 



CONTENTS. 



death of a pious woman — Foster's Essays — Illness on a 
journey — Camp meeting at New Lebanon — Happy sea- 
son — Growth of Methodism in Westfield — Short inter- 
view with Bishop Hedding — Removal to Chatham cir- 
cuit — Shakers at New-Lebanon — S. Merwin — Camp 
meetings — Sudden conversion followed by lasting piety 
— David Weager and J. Gregory, local preachers in the 
circuit — Dwelling consumed — Revival — Conversion of 
a revolutionary soldier — Contrast — Revival — Conver- 
sion and happy death of W. H. Cox — Growth of reli- 
gion on Chatham circuit . . . Page 128 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

OF 

ELBERT OSBORN. 



CHAPTER L 

FROM THE AUTHOR'S EARLY CHILDHOOD TILL 
HE WAS LICENSED TO EXHORT, 1800-1821. 

On the banks of a little stream which winds 
its way among the hills and valleys of Fairfield, 
in Connecticut, I spent the years of my early 
childhood. Sasco is the name of this rivulet, 
and it is evidently a name of Indian origin. I 
was born April 7th, 1800. The place of my 
birth was about two miles from its mouth, where 
it pours its humble tribute into the Long Island 
Sound. My grandfather's grandfather, whose 
name was Richard Osborn, resided in the town 
of Fairfield; and from him, I believe, descended 
the numerous families of that name still residing 
in Fairfield and the adjacent towns. He was 
the owner of one of the long lots, as they were 
termed, which were from twenty to fifty rods in 



10 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



width, and eleven or twelve miles in length. 
The curious reader may wish to know the cause 
of fields being laid out in such a singular form. 
As it gives a specimen of Yankee ingenuity, 
counteracting royal oppression, I will give the 
account which has been handed down from our 
ancestors : — In the reign of King James II., Sir 
Edmund Andros was sent over to abridge the 
liberties of the New-England colonies, and take 
away the power of electing governors from the 
people. Public property was to be seized in 
the name of the king. The inhabitants of this 
part of the coast of Connecticut were anxious to 
have as much land as possible surveyed and re- 
cognized as private property. Hence, they laid 
out these fields, or " lots," as they called them, 
extending northward, from a road running par- 
allel with the shore, eleven or twelve miles, into 
the unsettled part of the country. Each of the 
inhabitants, I suppose, had a lot running thus 
far back ; and hence, a large tract became pri- 
vate property, which would otherwise have fallen 
into the hands of the crown, if King James's 
abdication had not led to the removal of his 
creature, Andros, from the government of New- 
England. My father owned a small piece of 
land, including about four acres, which was a 
part of the original Osborn long lot, and there, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



II 



when hoeing corn and performing other kinds 
of agricultural labor, have I often exclaimed in 
my mind, " Our fathers, where are they ?" 

My father's name was Levi Osborn, who, when 
about seven years of age, was deprived by death 
of his father. His widowed mother was soon 
after called to behold the lifeless body of her 
eldest son David, brought home from the field 
of battle, near the principal village in Fairfield, 
when that village was consumed by the British 
army in the revolutionary war. He had pre- 
viously been a prisoner of the British in the 
city of New- York, but had been released, and, 
not long after his return, fell in battle while op- 
posing the invaders of his country. Often have 
I heard, in my childhood, my dear parents relate 
the awful scenes of those days. And the reader 
will not wonder that I early imbibed a dread 
of the horrors of war, and that I rejoice in 
hoping the time will come when " swords shall 
be beaten into ploughshares, and spears into 
pruning-hooks." 

I believe my parents both thought that they 
obtained peace by believing in Christ, before 
their marriage ; and, soon after their marriage, 
they were admitted into the Congregational 
Church in that part of Fairfield called Green- 
field. The minister who performed the mar- 



12 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



riage ceremony, and with whose church they 
were afterward connected, was the Rev. Timo- 
thy Dwight, D. D., afterward president of Yale 
College. 

For a few years my father endeavored to 
serve God ; but the state of experimental reli- 
gion was very low, I fear, in that vicinity in 
those days. Contentions arose in the church, 
which were increased by political prejudices ; 
and these things, in connection with worldly 
cares and the desire of riches, gradually drew 
his heart away from the Lord. In such a state 
of mind, the faults and failings of professors of 
religion, and especially of ministers, were mag- 
nified in his views ; the arguments of skeptics 
insinuated themselves into his mind ; their so- 
phisms shook his faith ; and some of the opinions 
which he had been taught made the downfall 
more easy ; and before I was six years of age 
he was secretly infidel in his sentiments. O 
how much harm is done by quarrels among pro- 
fessing Christians, and how carefully ought 
ministers, especially, to shun the appearance of 
evil, lest through their fault some soul should 
perish for whom Christ died ! 

My pious mother, though she did not know 
that her companion had become an unbeliever 
in theory, yet saw, to her sorrow, that he was 



OF ELBERT OSBORK. 



13 



neglecting the practical duties of Christianity, 
and doubtless offered up fervent prayers to God 
in his behalf. It was a grief to her that he was 
disposed to permit a part of his house to be oc- 
cupied occasionally as a ball-room. In the 
mean time, although I was very fond of read- 
ing and study, yet the exhibition of pride and 
self-will, which occasionally took place in my 
conduct, must have pained her heart. One of 
the earliest circumstances which I can remem 
ber was this : — A schoolmate of my elder bro- 
ther called one morning on his way to school. 
He addressed some conversation to me in a 
friendly way; but there was something in his 
manner which disgusted me, and, to his great sur- 
prise, I struck him in the face with my fist. 

At another time, when I put on a pair of new 
shoes, my vanity and inconsideration were such 
that I well remember walking in a very conse- 
quential way back and forth across the room in 
which my brother, ten years older than myself, 
was sitting. As these shoes were made sharp- 
pointed at the toes, according to the fashion of 
the times, I took the liberty of giving my bro- 
ther now and then a slight kick with my newly 
shod feet. He remonstrated, but I foolishly 
persisted : he threatened to cut off the toes, but 
I did not heed his threats, supposing he would 



14 



PASSAGES IK THE LIFE 



not put them in execution ; but when he took 
them off my feet, and laid one of them on a 
block, and raised the ax, my consternation was 
great. He however contented himself with cut- 
ting off such an extremely minute portion of the 
point of the sole, that no injury was done, but I 
was effectually cured of my kicking propensi- 
ties. 

Young as I was, the amusements in my fa- 
ther's ball-room excited my attention, and led 
to some attempts at imitation. What would 
have been the result to me had my father con- 
tinued his course is known only to God. The 
members of churches in that vicinity, in general, 
said nothing against dancing. It is true, my 
pious mother advised me to read the Bible, and 
I followed her advice ; and one passage particu- 
larly made a strong impression upon my mind, 
namely, Matt, xii, 36:" For every idle word that 
men shall speak, they shall give account in the 
day of judgment." But my heart was yet un- 
der the dominion of pride and other evil passions 
of our nature ; and my pride was often flattered 
by the remarks made by many of the acquaint- 
ances of my parents concerning the proficiency 
in learning which they were pleased to say that 
I exhibited. 

My eldest brother, David, who was thirteen 



OP ELBERT OSBORN- 



15 



years older than myself, was very studious. He 
took great pains to assist me in my studies, and 
particularly in acquiring some knowledge of the 
rudiments of arithmetic. He was an affection- 
ate brother, moral in his habits, and I trust truly 
pious. My father loved him very tenderly, and 
had not ventured to communicate any of his in- 
fidel notions to him, when that God, who often 
takes his children from the evil to come, and 
also, by affliction, frequently brings the prodi- 
gal to a sense of his situation, saw fit to call my 
eldest brother from time to eternity. A fever 
of nine days' continuance terminated his mortal 
existence, in May, 1807. He was enabled to 
give satisfactory testimony to his friends, who 
conversed with him in his last illness, that Christ, 
the Saviour of sinners, was precious to his soul. 
This bereavement had an awakening influence 
on my father's mind. Even before his son's 
death, such a sense of his own ingratitude to 
God pressed upon his mind, that he sunk down 
to the ground and cried for mercy. If I recol- 
lect right, he told me that Jesus Christ seemed 
to be very near him, and that his presence filled 
him with awful horror. No more balls were 
attended at my father's house after the gentle 
spirit of my brother fled to the better world. 
Dr. H. Humphrey, then minister of a Congrega- 



16 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



tional church about four miles from my father's 
house, and since president of Amherst College, 
Massachusetts, preached the funeral sermon 
from Psalm xxxiv, 19: "Many are the afflic- 
tions of the righteous ; but the Lord delivereth 
him out of them all." After a few weeks, the 
bereaved father obtained a satisfactory sense of 
reclaiming and forgiving mercy. Now he visited 
the house of prayer, and talked with his family 
on the things of religion and of God, Occa- 
sionally he went some distance to hear the 
preaching of Methodist ministers, and was much 
pleased with their mode of preaching, and their 
views of gospel doctrines. And here let me 
say to the backslider, (if any such person should 
read these pages,) that perhaps God may 
take from him a beloved child, or some other 
dear relative, to call him back to God; or, what 
would be more awful, the wanderer himself 
may be cut off in his sins. Had my ungodly 
father, instead of my pious brother, been taken 
away, how dreadful would have been the event ! 

It was not till early in the year 1808 that I 
heard a Methodist minister preach. His name 
was Seth Crowell, and it was in a private house. 
I had never seen a person kneel in prayer be- 
fore ; and I looked at the kneeling minister, and 
the few kneeling individuals also, with amaze- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



17 



ment. I was still more amazed to hear some 
of them " speak out aloud in meeting" saying 
" Amen/' in time of prayer. The next day this 
same minister preached in a school-house near 
another place of worship. I wished to hear Mr. 
C. again, but feared the scorn of some of my 
acquaintances ; I therefore waited till they had 
gone into their place of worship, and then I ran 
over to the school-house. Young as I was, I 
found that " the fear of man bringeth a snare." 
Mr. Crowell's text, on that occasion, was 1 John 
i, 8-10. Those who will turn to Dr. Bangs' 
description of this servant of the Lord, as found 
in the History of Methodism, vol. iii, pages 
374-377, can form probably a better idea of the 
sermon than I can give them. One circum- 
stance occurred which I will mention : — A 
thoughtless young woman amused herself by 
whispering and laughing in time of preaching ; 
but her mirth was suitably and effectually re- 
proved by the minister, who said to her, in a 
most solemn manner, " Will you laugh an am- 
bassador of God in the face ?" During the 
next day Mr. Crowell called at our house and 
took dinner there ; and this was the first pasto- 
ral visit made at my father's residence by a 
Methodist minister. In the mean time, the 
sermons and pious conversations which I had 
2 



18 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

heard, and the religious books which I had read, 
tended, with God s blessing, to make some fa- 
vorable impression on my youthful mind con- 
cerning the necessity of the religion of the 
heart. At length my father took me with him 
one evening to hear another Methodist minister, 
the Rev. Zalmon Lyon, who now rests, I trust, 
in Abraham's bosom. " God so loved the world 
that he gave his only begotten Son," &c, was 
the blessed text on which this good man preached 
on that occasion. The meeting was at a private 
house. I suppose there were a few Methodists 
there from another neighborhood, and some other 
serious persons, and so the good minister held a 
class meeting after preaching. My father and 
myself tarried in the class meeting. This was 
the first meeting of that kind which either of us 
had ever attended. Something which I saw, or 
heard, or felt, in that meeting, led me to say in 
childish simplicity to my dear mother, when I 
returned home, " I believe I shall be a Metho- 
dist." 

Not long after, perhaps the next day, while 
praying alone to God for his blessing to be 
communicated to my soul, I trust he answered 
my prayer. I well remember the place where 
I prayed. It was in a retired spot, in the open 
air ; and it was on a cloudy sabbath morning 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



19 



when I trust that I was first enabled to rejoice 
through Christ Jesus in the light of God's re- 
conciled countenance. This occurred when I 
was between eight and nine years old. After 
this event ray feelings were very different from 
what they were before, particularly in one re- 
spect. Before, I had been exceedingly fond of 
praise, but after this I was more anxious to 
please God than to be applauded by man. Be- 
fore this, some little attempts at composition had 
been commended by individuals, much to my 
gratification. But after this I felt desirous to 
write something which would do good to some 
one. A letter which I wrote to a cousin, and 
another to an uncle residing some distance from 
my father's house, were kindly transcribed by 
an only sister, a few years older than myself, 
so as to render them legible to those to whom 
they were written. The exercise of putting my 
thoughts on paper was a pleasing employment 
to me in those days. 

In the course of that year Rev. N. W. Thomas 
and Rev. Jonathan Lyon were sent to that 
circuit. Mr. Thomas, in company with Rev. 
Aaron Sanford, (a local preacher, residing in 
Reading, about fourteen miles distant,) called at 
my father's house, took dinner, offered up prayer, 
and left an appointment for Mr. L. to preach. 



20 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



It would seem from Dr. Bangs' History of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. i, p. 292, that 
Mr. Satiford was the first man who united with 
the Methodists in New-England. He, Mr. 
Thomas, and Mr. Lyon, are yet living, while 
multitudes, whom they have been instrumental 
in gathering into the church of Christ, have gone 
before them to the fields of the blessed. Mr. 
Lyon came at the appointed time, and preached, 
I think, from these words, 66 This man receiveth 
sinners." At this meeting, for the first time in 
a public assembly, I kneeled during prayer. 
This I did from a sense of duty, for I had read 
those passages in the Bible which speak of this 
posture of devotion as practiced by ancient 
saints, as well as the invitation to " bow down 
and kneel before the Lord our Maker." Con- 
scientiously, therefore, did I worship in this 
manner, while my father, mother, brother, 
and sister, continued to stand, according to 
their former custom. Once in two weeks Mr. 
T. and Mr. L. preached at my father's house on 
Saturday evening ; and after the lapse of five 
or six months, both of my parents, my only 
brother, my only sister, and myself, offered our- 
selves for membership to the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church, and were admitted on probation by 
the Rev. Mr. Lyon. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



21 



In the course of that summer I often rode 
with my father about seven miles on sabbath- 
day to hear the gospel preached in a small Me- 
thodist church, called Lee's Chapel. This name 
was given to it in honor of Jesse Lee, who may 
be called the apostle of New-England Method- 
ism. This building was the first Methodist 
church erected in New-England. Well do I 
remember that small, plain building, as well as 
the first love-feast which I ever attended. It 
was in the summer of 1808, and was held in 
Lee's Chapel. The house was full, not only of 
people, but, as it seemed to me, of the glory of 
God. One of the ministers, who is still living, 
and a member of the New- York Conference, was 
so overwhelmed with the presence of God, that 
for a time his bodily strength departed from 
him. To my soul it was a solemn and joyful 
occasion. Many were the seasons of religious 
enjoyment which I also had in private prayer. 
But sometimes, through unfaithfulness, and at 
other times by the temptations of the enemy, I 
was cast down in my feelings. The following 
passage of Scripture made a lasting impression 
on my mind: "Whether therefore ye eat or 
drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory 
of God." But while I rejoice that I read these 
words with so much interest, and while I mourn 



22 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



that I have not been more careful to act accord- 
ingly, I am sensible that, through the weakness 
of my childhood, I had some very mistaken no- 
tions about my duty, which in some cases pro- 
duced needless solicitude. 

Being very fond of study and reading, and 
going to school most of the time, my health was 
probably in some measure affected, and this may 
have had some effect in depressing my spirits. 
Yet I was not confined to my room by illness, 
except in a few cases, and for a very short time. 
Some of my father's acquaintances, however, 
supposed that my life would be very short. But 
while I am writing I can adopt the language of 
Caleb, (see Josh, xiv, 10,) " The Lord hath kept 
me alive these forty and five years." Doubt- 
less he has seen fit to preserve me that I may 
labor to do good. But ah ! how feeble have my 
efforts been ! Among the books which I read 
before I was twelve years old were the fol- 
lowing: — Edwards's History of Redemption, 
Haweis's Church History, one volume of Wes- 
ley's Sermons, Simpson's Plea for Religion, 
Fletcher's Appeal, Memoirs of Mrs. Rogers, 
Lackington's Confessions, Life of Dr. Samuel 
Johnson, one volume of Robertson's History of 
America, a volume of the Spectator, Dr. Young's 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



23 



Night Thoughts, Mrs. Howe's Devout Exercises 
of the Heart, 

Several of these books were purchased by my 
father of the Methodist ministers who preach- 
ed on that circuit, and some of them were bor- 
rowed of my father's neighbors, A number of 
these books were of a decidedly religious tend- 
ency. I have reason to thank God for the deep 
and lasting impressions made on my mind 
through their instrumentality ; and I have no 
doubt much good has been done through the 
books which the Methodist itinerants have scat- 
tered through the land. 

In the year 1809 Billy Hibbard and Isaac 
Candee were appointed to our circuit, which 
embraced the whole of Fairfield county. Now, 
in that county there are about fifteen ministers of 
the Methodist E. Church employed, so that there 
is a far greater amount of stated ministerial 
labor, and especially of sabbath labor, enjoyed 
now, than in former days. " Where much is 
given, much is required." Mr. Hibbard was a 
very eccentric man, but a very devoted minis- 
ter of Christ. His manner of speaking, his 
gestures, and the appearance of his countenance, 
were so singular, that I often gazed upon him 
with deep interest while he was speaking. Soon 



24 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



after he came on the circuit a camp meeting 
was held within the bounds of the circuit, at 
Stamford, about eighteen miles from my father's 
house. We all felt a great desire to be present, 
at least a part of the time. I will not disguise 
the fact that some curiosity mingled with my 
desire for spiritual benefit. I had heard much 
of these meetings ; much was said for and 
against them, and I wished to see for myself. 
Glad was I when I learned that my father had 
made arrangements with a neighbor of his to go 
with him in the same wagon to the camp meet- 
ing. Accordingly, about two o'clock in the 
morning of Thursday, the neighbor and his wife, 
together with my father, mother, sister, and 
myself, set out for the tented grove. It was a 
little after sunrise when we arrived within hear- 
ing of the mingled sounds of prayer and praise 
which ascended from different parts of the en- 
campment. Probably it was a time when a 
large number of the friends on the ground were 
engaged in family devotion. Such a combina- 
tion of voices sounded strangely in our ears. 
The man who was with us, a stout, athletic 
farmer, when inquired of, whether the peculiar 
appearance of his countenance arose from fear, 
acknowledged that he was a little frightened. 
We soon ventured within the inclosure of the 



OF ELBERT OSBOEN. 



25 



tents, and shortly met with some Christian 
friends, whose kindness tended much to make 
us feel at home. About ten o'clock A. M. the 
congregation was called to the stand, and I listen- 
ed to the first sermon which I ever heard at a 
camp meeting. It was from these words : 
" Thine eyes shall see the King in his beauty ; 
they shall behold the land that is very far off." 
In the afternoon another minister preached from 
this passage : " As for this sect, we know it is 
everywhere spoken against.''' In the evening 
another spoke from these words: "One thing I 
know, whereas I was once blind, now I see.*' 
These three ministers now slumber in the silent 
tomb, and no doubt a large proportion of the 
vast assembly who listened to them on that oc- 
casion have also gone to the eternal world. 
Earnest were the prayers of Christians, and 
great the joy which many of them experienced 
at that meeting, while many professed to find 
the Saviour's love. On Friday morning the 
last sermon at this meeting was preached from 
these words : " TThen He, the Spirit of truth, is 
come, he will guide you into all truth." This 
discourse was delivered with great solemnity by 
a minister who is still living, Eev. Aaron Hunt. 
He was then the presiding elder of a neigh- 
boring district. This was the first time that I 



26 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



ever saw him. Little did I think when a child 
nine years old, listening to that sermon, that 
thirteen years afterward he would give his vote 
to license me as a preacher of the gospel. Mr. 
H. told me at the session of the New- York Con- 
ference in 1845, that Long Island was his first 
circuit, and that he traveled in company with 
Dr. W. Phoebus, having been called out by the 
presiding elder, probably in the year 1790. 
Long Island was then but one circuit, and their 
only preaching place in Brooklyn was a private 
dwelling. Now there are five or six Methodist 
churches in that city, and there are thirty -two 
traveling preachers laboring on Long Island. 
But to return. After singing a farewell hymn 
from the stand, the camp meeting closed, and 
we returned home. Twelve years elapsed be- 
fore I went to another: not that I lacked the 
inclination, but circumstances rendered it im- 
practicable. 

Mr. Candee, one of our circuit preachers, was 
a man in feeble health, and such was the nature 
of his complaint that it affected his nerves, and 
made him think that he was more feeble, and 
his situation more dangerous, than was really 
the case. In short, he was greatly afflicted with 
hypochondria ; yet, when he could be prevailed 
upon to preach, he was generally very fer- 



OF ELBERT OSBOPwX. 



27 



vent, and I believe often successful in winning 
souls to Christ. It was either in consequence 
of his illness, or because he was called else- 
where, that a young man was sent to the circuit 
by the presiding elder, to labor with Mr. Hib- 
bard. This young man was Arnold Schole- 
field, who afterward became eminently accept- 
able and useful. Indeed, during the three 
months which he was employed on that circuit, 
he was much beloved by the people. I recol- 
lect that on a sabbath morning, (when he had 
sat down at my father's table to breakfast,) in 
religious conversation, my father and Mr. S. soon 
became so happy as to prevent them from eat- 
ing their breakfast. But I may speak of him 
more hereafter. 

It was about this time that my father had a 
very extraordinary exercise of mind, which oc- 
curred one evening, and which had a most pow- 
erful and singular effect on his body. Father 
Hibbard preached that evening, at my father's 
house. After the sermon, a class meeting was 
held, in which the power of God fell upon my 
father in a wonderful manner. He had long 
desired, I believe, to obtain the blessing of en- 
tire sanctifi cation, and that evening he thought 
he received it He fell from the chair upon the 
floor, and, for a time, the struggle appeared to 



28 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



be severe ; but he did not seek in vain. Yet 
he was assailed by some distressing temptations 
shortly afterward, and it is possible that he, for 
a time, lost the blessing which he then receiv- 
ed : but I trust that he afterward regained it ; 
and I bope that he is now rejoicing in a world 
of unchangeable holiness. In the spring of 1810, 
Nathan Emery and John Russell were sent to 
the Reading circuit, which included the place 
where my father resided. The former is now 
living, (1846,) I believe, in Ohio, and Mr. Rus- 
sell is, I trust, living in paradise. He was the 
son of the pious and venerable Abraham Rus- 
sell, of New- York, who was long known as a 
liberal and useful member of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. At the time when John 
entered the ministry, in the year 1810, his 
father was in wealthy circumstances ; and the 
privations of the itinerant were then probably 
far greater than they are at present. But John 
cheerfully consented to forego all the comforts 
of a kind father's house, and went forth among 
strangers to seek the lost sheep of the house of 
Israel, and to lead sinners to God. He was 
very kind and affectionate, and at the same time 
serious and studious. I well remember that 
the first copy of any part of Dr. Adam Clarke's 
Commentary which I ever saw, was brought 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



29 



to my father's house by Mr. R. I was theu 
between ten and eleven years of age, and was 
very thankful for the privilege of reading it oc- 
casionally. At one time, when he laid it down 
to step out of the room, I became so interested 
in it, that when he returned I forgot that he 
might want it, until he, in a very gentle man- 
ner, asked me for it. The preachers who 
preached at my father's house commonly spent 
the night and a part of two days with us ; and 
I looked forward with much interest to the ap- 
pointed time for Mr. R. to arrive, that I might 
have a glimpse now and then at his Commenta- 
ry. But his season of toil and trial was short. 
It was only about two years after he left Read- 
ing circuit, when he was called to his heavenly 
home. 

During this conference year, the Lord gra- 
ciously revived his work in our neighborhood, 
and my father's house was honored with the 
awakening and conversion of souls. At one 
time, when Mr. Emery preached, the Rev. David 
Austin,* who was at the time preaching in that 
vicinity, gave an exhortation after the sermon, 
and then Mr. E. kneeled down to offer the con- 

• This minister was celebrated for his talents, elo- 
quence, zeal, and eccentricities. He labored among the 
Presbyterians and Congregationalists. 



SO PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

eluding prayer. During this prayer, one or 
two individuals began to cry for mercy, and the 
meeting was changed into a prayer meeting, 
and it was a season long to be remembered. 

Among the instruments employed by the 
Lord in this revival was Thomas Thorp, at that 
time a young school teacher, who commenced 
teaching a district school, in our neighborhood, 
where I received instruction. When a thought- 
less young man, he was awakened through the 
personal conversation of Rev. M. Richardson, 
then just commencing his ministerial career. 
Lodging one night in the same room with him, 
Mr. R. invited the youth to Christ Mr. T. 
was pious, labored zealously for his God, and I 
believe received license to exhort a few weeks 
after he came to our neighborhood ; and, within 
two years from that time, he was licensed to 
preach, and admitted into the traveling connec- 
tion. He made rapid advancement in the stu- 
dies suitable to a young minister, and became, 
in a very few years, a very acceptable preacher. 
In 1818 he was stationed in the city of New- 
York, and in 1819 he died. 

Another young man, an exhorter, who fre- 
quently held meetings at my father's house in 
those days, was Alfred Bronson, who has since 
been a presiding elder in a western conference, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



and has labored as a missionary in the far north- 
west. In the spring of 1811 our circuit was 
made a six-weeks' circuit, and A. Hunt, O. 
Sykes, and J. Reynolds, were appointed as our 
preachers. Although thirty-four years have 
passed away since that time, and multitudes of 
our ministers have gone into the eternal world, 
these three fathers in Israel are still living, and 
all of them yet able occasionally to preach Jesus 
to their fellow-men.* This year I was led to 
seek for more religion. The holy, prayerful 
example of one of those ministers, especially, 
was rendered a means of exciting a strong de- 
sire for higher degrees of holiness. Some sea- 
sons of social prayer, which he and my dear pa- 
rents enjoyed in my father's house, will long 
remain fresh in my recollection. Our presiding 
elder at this time was William Anson, who had 
traveled on our circuit (Reading) a few years 
before, and whose memory was dear to many 
in our vicinity. The remarks which I heard 
from those who had known him, made me anx- 
ious to hear him. This opportunity I enjoyed 
at length, at a quarterly meeting held in the 
new meeting-house in Weston, which had been 
erected in the place of " Lee Chapel" to which 

* Since the above was written, Mr. Reynolds has been 
suddenly called to his reward. 



32 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



allusion has already been made. Whenever I 
had been to quarterly meeting before, I only 
enjoyed the privileges of the sabbath ; but on 
this occasion I went on Saturday, heard the 
sermon, and went to one of the prayer meet- 
ings on Saturday evening. In those days 
" many came from far," on these occasions ; 
sometimes, perhaps one or two hundred persons 
from other parts of the circuit were entertained 
on Saturday night among the friends in the 
place where the quarterly meeting was held. 
The prayer meetings were generally held at 
from three to six different places on the Satur- 
day evening, and sometimes were seasons of 
great interest and mercy. In the love-feast, on 
sabbath morning, it was quite common to hear 
several individuals speak, with glad hearts and 
streaming eyes, of the blessings conferred on 
them in the meetings of the previous evening. 
The distance of most of the quarterly meetings 
from my father's house made it inconvenient 
for me to attend very often, and the privilege 
was embraced with great avidity whenever it 
was practicable. In the early part of the sum- 
mer of 1812 new preachers were sent to the 
circuit. Their names were Seth Crowell, Coles 
Carpenter, and Gilbert Lyon. Mr. Crowell, I 
have already mentioned, as being the first mm* 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 33 

ister of the Methodist Church that I ever saw. 
Great was my joy when I heard that he was 
appointed to our circuit, and the sermons which 
I heard from him made a deep impression on 
my mind. Some of the texts from which he 
preached were these : — Matt, xxv, 46 ; 1 John 
v, 4; Isa. lxvi, 6 ; and Psa. cxix, 1. But such 
was the feeble state of his nervous system, 
through the severe labors and exposure of for- 
mer years, that he was not able to perform a 
great amount of labor during the year. It was 
delightful to me to listen to his narratives of 
scenes through which he had passed, when 
preaching Jesus in the wilds of Canada. I 
distinctly remember one evening, which was 
chiefly occupied in relating his travels, trials, 
and successes in the ministry.- Just before 
retiring to rest, he turned to me, who was 
the youngest person present, and addressed a 
few words of religious conversation, which im- 
mediately melted my heart, and I burst into 
tears. How much good might ministers do, by 
speaking in a friendly manner, personally, to 
the children in the families where they visit ! 
From the lips of Mr. Crowell I received the 
first information concerning that holy man of 
God, H. C. Wooster, who had preceded Mr. C. 
as a missionary in Canada, and whose name 
3 



34 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



among that people "was as ointment poured 
forth." 

One of his colleagues, Mr. Carpenter, was 
much younger in the ministry than Mr. Crowell ; 
but they have both gone to the eternal world, 
and I fully believe to the home of the blessed. 
Mr. Carpenter was very pathetic and impressive 
in exhortation and in hortatory discourses, but 
seldom took up those controverted topics which 
were so ably handled by his senior colleague. 
Neither did he, like him, frequently pour out 
the terrors of the law in overwhelming torrents 
upon the unconverted, being rather a " son of 
consolation," than a " son of thunder." Some 
of his descriptions of the glories and joys of the 
heavenly land are still so distinctly remembered 
by me, that I can almost fancy that I hear his 
melodious voice yet sounding in my ears. God 
grant that I and my family, with every member 
of his family, may meet him in that " land of 
pure delight." 

Before the conference year had closed, the 
health of Mr. Crowell became so impaired, that 
the presiding elder of the district thought pro- 
per to employ Jabez Tredwell, a worthy young 
local preacher, to fill his place. He was warm 
in his Master's cause, and labored very accept- 
ably on the circuit till conference. Then he 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



35 



was received as a probationer in the itinerancy, 
and appointed to a circuit in the Genesee Con- 
ference. During his second year of labor he 
was attacked with disease, and died, shouting 
" Glory to God." This was the happy and 
glorious end of one who sought the Lord and 
obtained mercy when he was about seven years 
old, and I believe continued faithful through 
the whole course of his pilgrimage. May the 
youth, who read this account, seek the Lord 
noio in the morning of life. 

The presiding elder who employed Mr. 
Tredwell to fill the vacancy on the circuit was 
the Rev. Elijah Woolsey, who is still living, 
waiting for a call to go and join those who have 
gone before him to the land of rest. I believe 
Mr. Wools ey, when he traveled on Reading cir- 
cuit, some years before, was the instrument of 
the awakening of Mr. Tredwell's mother. 

In the spring of 1813 A. Hunt -was sent to 
our circuit again, and with him an old soldier 
of the cross, who is still living, by the name of 
Henry Eames. He was the son of an Irish Me- 
thodist, who immigrated to America, I believe, 
before the Revolution, and who was acquainted, 
in Ireland, with Mr. Wesley. A letter to him 
from Mr. W. is to be found in Wesley's Works, 
vol. vii, p. 99. I remember to have seen the 



36 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



old man with his white locks, in 1811, rise in a 
love-feast, which was held in a barn, to witness 
for the Saviour whom he loved. If I mistake 
not, his son Henr y was converted when about 
twelve years old, and commenced his labors as 
an itinerant minister in the year 1800. This 
minister had recently lost, by death, a pious, 
useful, and beloved companion. In subsequent 
years, while traveling in sections of country 
where they formerly resided, I have often heard 
her piety, prayers, and efforts for the salvation 
of souls, spoken of with gratitude. Her be- 
reaved husband often carried copies of her reli- 
gious letters to her friends with him, and read 
them to the families where he was entertained. § 
Thus, "being dead she yet" spoke to many 
whom she had never seen on earth, some of 
whom, however, love to think of meeting her in 
glory. To encourage pious parents to pray for 
the conversion and usefulness of their children, 
and to comfort those who may be called by 
death away from their children, while they are 
yet young, I will observe, that a dear son of 
Mrs. E., who was but twelve or fourteen years 
of age when his mother died, is, and has been 
for many years, a useful minister of the Troy 
Conference. 

In this year (1813) I first saw and heard a 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



37 



minister, who is still living, and whose influence 
has been extensively felt in our church, I mean 
Nathan Bangs. An aged sister by the name 
of Wells, who lived about eight miles from my 
father's, (and who was one of those persons who 
composed the first class formed by Jesse Lec 
after commencing his labors in New-England,) 
was visiting at our house, just after conference, 
and mentioned that our new presiding elder, 
brother Bangs, was a good little boy when she 
knew him in the days of his childhood. When 
I first saw him, it was at a love-feast held in 
Josiah Gregory's barn, in Poplar Plains. My 
curiosity had been much excited by the conver- 
sation of Mrs. Wells, and my first feeling, when 
he commenced reading the hymn, was one 
of disappointment on account of the lowness of 
his voice. I feared he would not be able to 
make us hear the whole of his discourse. But 
my fears were soon removed. The love-feast 
was good, and, after it closed, the congregation 
adjourned to a grove near by, on a gentle decli- 
vity. A large farm wagon served as a pulpit, 
and the presiding elder preached from, " Ye 
know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ," &e. 
We felt as well as heard the word of truth. 
After the sermon was closed, a venerable man 
arose and read the hymn, 



38 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



" Of Him who did salvation bring, 
I could for ever think and sing." 

His countenance was florid, and his voice and 
enunciation were somewhat peculiar. But there 
was something heavenly in his manner and ap- 
pearance. He was an English Methodist preach- 
er of the name of Blagborne, who spent two or 
three years laboring in America, He preached 
a good sermon from 1 John ii, 2, and presented 
our great Advocate in a most impressive man- 
ner to our view. He returned to England, and 
in a few years died suddenly, and no doubt went 
to rest In the fifteenth chapter of that excel- 
lent biography, " The Life of Bramweil," we 
find him making this remark, just before his 
own sudden death: "0 the blessed — blessed 
state of that holy man of God, Mr. Blagborne, 
when he was about to depart. I saw him in 
London a short time prior to his death, when he 
exclaimed, with great joy, 6 Glory, glory be to 
God, who hath made me fully ready for my 
change !' " How desirable for all is such a state 
of mind ! 

Among the books which I read about this 
time was Law's Serious Call to a Holy Life, 
which very deeply impressed my mind with a 
sense of the importance of being continually 
devoted to God, and of laboring to be as holy as 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



39 



I possibly could. Having been informed that 
this book was very useful to Mr. Wesley when 
young, I perused it with great attention, and I 
trust with profit. This book of itself, however, 
would not have set before me as clearly as was 
necessary the privilege of a full salvation by 
faith in Christ. Two other publications, which 
fell into my hands about this time, were well 
calculated to present that blessed privilege. 
These were Mr. Fletcher's Last Check to Anti- 
nomianism, and particularly his address to im- 
perfect believers, and the letters of that holy 
woman, Mrs. Hester A. Rogers. The former 
of these books was kindly lent to me by our 
preacher, brother Eames, and the latter was lent 
to my dear mother, by another pious friend. 
She had long been seeking perfect love with 
great earnestness, and, through the blessing of 
God upon this little book, was enabled to take 
hold, by faith, on the exceeding great and pre- 
cious promises of the gospel. Did not that cir- 
cumstance heighten the joy and increase the 
fellowship of Mrs. Eogers and my mother when 
they met, (as we trust they have met,) in the 
fields of the blessed? 

My own soul was led to seek earnestly, and 
pray much, for the blessing of entire sanctifica- 
tion, and I endeavored to seek it by faith. And 



40 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



although I was but a youth, not quite fourteen 
years old, I cannot help thinking that then I 
was enabled to love God with all my heart, and 
though the blessing which I received was re- 
tained in its fullness but a very short season at 
that time, yet its remembrance is precious to my 
soul. I fear that during the greater part of the 
time since then I have loved God but imper- 
fectly ; but I am thankful for that renewing and 
restoration which at different times I have re- 
ceived through faith in the blood of the cove- 
nant. I should have said that not long previous 
to these exercises my mind had been strongly 
tempted to the love of money, and various 
schemes had presented themselves to me for 
the future acquisition of wealth. And I felt 
sensibly that my heart was too prone to depart 
from the living God. Had it not been for the 
restraining grace and kind providence of God, 
I know not how far I might have been led into 
sins resulting from avarice. I feel that in this 
respect, as well as in others, I am greatly in- 
debted to grace. 

In those days, also, I found it necessary to 
watch against the amusements of youth, which 
had a tendency to draw my heart away from 
God. Some of Mr. Wesley's remarks on the 
subject of amusements, particularly in his ser- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



41 



nion on the " more excellent way," were very 
useful to me. In 1814 Ebenezer Washburn 
and Reuben Harris came on our circuit to labor. 
The former has, within a few years, given sev- 
eral interesting reminiscences of his life to the 
readers of the Christian Advocate and Journal ; 
and though he has removed far west to the 
Wisconsin Territory, he still lives in the warm 
affections of many, very many, of his Christian 
friends in the Atlantic states. May his old age 
be sweetened by the presence of God and the 
kindness of man ! Brother Harris also removed 
to Ohio a few years since, and died when on a 
journey in a part of the state remote from his 
residence, having preached his last sermon (but 
a few days before his death) among strangers, 
on this text: — "Let us go on to perfection" 

In the course of the year some difficulty 
arose between my father and another class-lead • 
er in the society, which had an unfavorable in- 
fluence on my father's mind, in some degree, 
for several years. This was a cause of grief 
to his family, to the preachers, and to his breth- 
ren and sisters generally. At one time he told 
me that he thought he should withdraw from 
the Methodist Church, but did not speak of 
uniting with any other. This grieved my heart, 
and I used the strongest arguments I could to 



42 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



prevent such a step, and I thank God that step 
was never taken. My dear father lived twelve 
years longer, a member of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church: many happy meetings were held 
under his roof during that time ; and at length 
I heard him praise God on his dying bed. How 
many have rashly cut themselves off from the 
society of the church, to their great injury ! 
The brother with whom he differed, I thought, 
was a good man ; but if Satan could have led 
two good men into such a controversy as would 
have led to the separation of one or both of 
them from the church, his malicious designs 
would have been accomplished, especially, if 
either of them had lost his soul through his folly. 

This year, a good man by the name of Moses 
Betts was appointed leader of our class. He 
was rather prone to doubts and fears, but the 
example which he set us of steadfastness in duty, 
and attendance upon the means of grace, to- 
gether with the advice which he gave me, shed 
a beneficial influence on my mind. After faith- 
fully performing his duty as a class-leader, 
amidst several discouraging circumstances, for 
nearly four years, he was called from the field 
of toil on earth to the heavenly rest above. 

The house of Peter Jennings, about two miles 
from my residence, was a place where the society 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



A3 



often met to worship God, there being no Me- 
thodist church at that time within seven miles 
of us. In brother Jennings' house I was often 
blessed, both in hearing the word preached on 
week evenings, (and occasionally on the sab- 
bath,) and often in the prayer meetings and 
class meetings, which were frequently held on 
the holy day of the Lord. It may interest some 
persons to learn that, in many parts of my na- 
tive state, it was customary to have two public 
services in the daytime on the sabbath, in the 
same house, even in small country places where 
the members were few and scattering. In this 
respect the Methodists there differ in their 
usages from many of their brethren in the ad- 
joining state of New-York- In several instances, 
our ministers, who had labored on circuits in 
the state of New- York, when they came into 
Connecticut, endeavored to introduce the prac- 
tice there of having a morning sermon in one 
society, and then going on to preach in another 
place three, four, or six miles distant, in the af- 
ternoon. These efforts were not made from a 
regard to their own convenience, for it required 
more toil : and it is not very pleasant, in a hot 
summer's day, or in a cold winter's day, after 
the labor of the morning service, (often includ- 
ing a class meeting.) to ride half a dozen miles 



44 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



to preach again. But their object was to meet 
as many of the pressing calls for sabbath preach- 
ing as they could. But these efforts to change 
the custom of the dwellers in the land of steady 
habits were not generally very successful. In 
many cases the people said they would prefer 
" all-day preaching" as they called it, once in 
four or even six weeks, to " half-day preaching" 
once in two weeks. It was quite common, in 
many places, for those who resided two or three 
miles from the place of worship to carry with 
them some articles of light food, which they ate 
between the morning and afternoon meetings, 
instead of returning home to dinner. Often 
would you see the husband and son approaching 
the basket of the good wife and kind mother to 
receive a supply from the eatables which she 
had brought with her ; while others drew from 
their own pockets those supplies which they 
needed for present use. It was my custom to 
feed the mind, by reading, as well as the body, 
during those intermissions, as they were termed. 

It was at brother Jennings' house that I first 
saw a volume of the Dictionary of the Bible, 
and its contents, as far as opportunity permitted, 
I devoured with avidity. The historical facts 
and information in ancient geography, which I 
there found, were peculiarly interesting. Some 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



45 



difficult passages of Scripture were also explain- 
ed to my satisfaction. But, all ! there is always 
a but to everything earthly — this was but half 
the Dictionary ; hence, the remarks on the words 
beginning with the first half of the letters 
of the alphabet were not to be found here. 
But I made the best of what there was. The 
privilege of looking into this book was, for 
a time, confined to an hour or two of one day 
of the week. Great was my joy when told by 
a young man of my acquaintance, that brother 
J. had said that he was willing to lend me the 
book if I wished to borrow it. Without hesita- 
tion I accepted the kind offer, bore home my 
prize, and to this day retain a lively and grate- 
ful sense of the kindness of the lender. 

It was at his house, and in one of those sab- 
bath intermissions, that I first perused the de- 
lightful narrative of The Dairyman's Daughter, 
which drew tears from my eyes, (as I doubt not 
it has from the eyes of tens of thousands,) and 
led me to read other productions of the same 
writer. 

Through the kindness of brother J. and his 
family, I enjoyed, in the same way, the first op- 
portunity which I ever had of reading N. Bangs' 
book, entitled " Errors of Hopkinsianism," and 
some other books, which made a deep impres- 



46 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



sion on niy mind. Though T had discontinued 
attending school, yet my love of study remained ; 
and when a social library was established, about 
two miles from my father's, I eagerly desired to 
be a proprietor ; but this was not my lot. I often 
think of the great privileges enjoyed at the pre- 
sent day by the youth in every school district 
in the great state of New- York. Had I enjoy- 
ed access to such a library as may now be found 
in almost every neighborhood, and been per- 
mitted to read the books without money or 
price, it seems to me that I should have 
been exceedingly thankful. Of novels I have 
read scarcely any'; but I have seen enough 
of them to be satisfied that time may be 
employed to better purpose than in reading 
them. 

Near the close of this conference year (1814 
-15) a glorious revival of religion took place in 
the town of Reading. Numbers were power- 
fully converted to God ; and, in the love-feast 
of the last quarterly meeting held that year, I 
had the privilege of hearing the testimonies and 
shouts of several of the young converts, one of 
whom is now, and has been for years, a faithful 
minister in the New-York Conference. 

In 1815 Elijah Woolsey (who had been our 
presiding elder three years before) was placed 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



-17 



in charge of our circuit. Not having had an 
opportunity of hearing him while he was our 
presiding elder, I greatly desired to see and 
hear him when he commenced his labors among 
us as a circuit preacher. The first sermon which 
I heard him preach pleased and profited me 
much, and I think that I grew in grace more 
that year than in several other years of my 
life. The anecdotes which he related in his 
preaching, mostly circumstances which occurred 
under his own observation, were calculated to 
illustrate the goodness, power, and wisdom of 
God, as well as the workings of human nature. 
He commenced his labors as an itinerant Me- 
thodist preacher in the year 1793, and spent 
some time in the wilds of Canada, preaching 
Jesus to poor sinners. Many miles have I tra- 
veled, and sometimes through mud and snow, to 
hear this servant of the Lord publish his Mas- 
ter's gospel. Two things I always expected 
when I went to hear him. First, to find the 
meeting begun at an early hour ; and secondly, 
that the meeting would be dismissed in good 
season, so that I could walk home before a late 
hour in the night, even when I had three miles 
or more to walk. 

This year I obtained access to the Life of 
Benjamin Abbott. I once heard one of our 



48 



PASSAGES IS THE LIEE 



bishops (whose mother was awakened under 
Mr. Abbott's ministry) observe, that though he 
was a rough, untutored child of nature, yet he 
possessed so much good common sense, and so 
much of the power of the Holy Ghost, that he 
was very useful in the vineyard of the Lord. 
This simple narrative was a means of exciting 
me to greater earnestness in the cause of God. 
And the fact that our minister, brother "Woolsey, 
had been personally acquainted with father A., 
and confirmed the favorable opinion I had form- 
ed of him from reading his book, tended to make 
the book itself still more useful to me. -'The Por- 
traiture of Methodism" fell into my hands about 
this time, and I was much interested in reading 
it, especially the biographical notices which I 
found in it. " The Experience of several Me- 
thodist Preachers/' written by themselves, at 
Mr. Wesley's request, was also profitable to my 
soul. Scarcely any kind of religious books have 
had so much effect on my heart and conscience 
as religious biography. In consequence of this, 
I have been more ready to devote a portion of 
my time to writing a narrative of the dealings 
of God with me : for I have observed that even 
some narratives which were written without any 
elegance of style, and which did not contain any 
very remarkable events, were, nevertheless, 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



49 



rendered the means, in the Lord's hand, of 
much benefit to me in spiritual things. 

In the course of this year I was somewhat ex- 
ercised on the subject of a call to the ministry. 
Some impressions on my mind led me to think 
that it might be my duty, after the lapse of a 
few years, to stand up as an ambassador of Je- 
sus. But from my earliest childhood I had 
been afflicted with an impediment in my speech. 
I had a cleft palate, and the deficiency was so 
great that my voice sounded unpleasantly to 
strangers, besides rendering the language hard 
to be understood by persons not familiar with 
the sound. Although when a lad not more than 
nine years of age, I had occasionally prayed in 
small social circles, when called upon to do so, 
and once, by request of my teacher, had prayed 
with the school which I attended, yet it was 
very rarely that I had taken any part, vocally, 
in the social meetings of the friends. I excused 
myself from following some strong impressions 
concerning duty, by referring, in my own mind, 
to this unavoidable defect in my power of ar- 
ticulation. This consideration led me to dis- 
miss, as much as possible, the idea of preaching. 

About this time a young woman, eminently 
pious, removed from Ohio to Wilton, a few 
miles distant from our residence. Her name 
4 



50 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



was Rebecca Noyes, and although she had been 
very fond of gay and costly apparel, yet, after 
she turned to the Lord, she was emphatically 
" clothed with humility." She was not beauti- 
ful in the usual acceptation of the term, but her 
countenance, when lighted up with holy anima- 
tion seemed almost angelic. Her testimonies 
for her Lord in the love-feast, and in the general 
prayer meetings, (in which two or three adja- 
cent societies met together,) were often attended 
with a powerful and divine influence. I have 
seen unconverted persons, who were entire 
strangers to her, melted into tears, in a very 
few minutes after she commenced speaking or 
praying. I will here say that she continued 
faithful, holy, and useful, after her marriage, as 
well as before, till her triumphant death, about 
the year 1826. Her Christian course was 
through great tribulation ; but now, I have no 
doubt, she rejoices with them who " stand be- 
fore the throne." Her name after her marriage 
was Mrs. Lobdell, and an interesting account of 
this holy woman may be found in the Methodist 
Magazine, vol. x, p. 192. 

In 1816 Samuel Bushnell was appointed to 
succeed Mr. Woolsey in the charge of Reading 
circuit. There was a great contrast in the na- 
tural temperament of these good men ; Mr. W* 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



51 



being remarkably easy and affable in his man- 
ners, in conversation, and animated in his de- 
livery from the beginning of his sermons to the 
end ; while the other was reserved in his inter- 
course, and slow in the delivery of his public 
discourses, with but little gesticulation, and 
scarcely none at all in the former part of his 
sermon. Some of us were not so well pleased 
with him at first as we could wish, but before 
he had completed the term of two years among 
us, he was very highly esteemed by many. A 
few short years of labor after he left our circuit 
terminated his toil. 

During this year I was first favored with an 
opportunity of seeing that eminent servant of 
the Lord, Samuel Merwin, whose melodious, 
yet powerful voice, impressive enunciation, and 
manly form, are still fresh in my recollection. 
It was at a quarterly meeting in Norwalk, in 
the first Methodist church ever built in that town, 
before the church was finished, that I heard 
him preach for the first time, and it seems but 
as yesterday, though thirty years have since 
rolled away. For many years that " house of 
prayer" has been superseded by another, and 
Samual Merwin has gone to the home of Chris- 
tian pilgrims above. A single remark which 
Mr. M. made in that love-feast I will record. 



52 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



When a blind brother had said, among other 
things, " Brethren, though I cannot see yon, yet 
by faith I can see Jesus," and then took his seat, 
the good minister (looking at him very affec- 
tionately) observed : " In the resurrection, my 
brother, you will see as well as any of us." It 
might have been at the same quarterly meeting 
that he made the following remark : " When I 
was stationed in Albany," said he, " I sometimes 
went into the capitol, and was respectfully in- 
vited to a comfortable seat by some member or 
officer of the house, and listened for a time 
to the speeches of the learned and able gentle- 
men engaged in the debate, but I soon grew 
weary and uninterested, took my hat and re- 
tired. But," said he, " I go from one quarterly 
meeting to another ; every sabbath I am in a 
love-feast, where I hear men, women, and youth, 
most of whom make no pretension to eloquence 
or learning, speak in artless language, or broken 
accents, of God's goodness to them, and it is still 
interesting, affecting, and, as it were, new to me 
every sabbath." And often did his expressive 
countenance show plainly the deep feeling of 
his heart in listening to the simple testimony 
of the humble, illiterate child of God. In the 
course of my travels in different sections of the 
country, I have met with several of the spiritual 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



53 



children of Mr. M. ; and if these pages should 
meet the eyes of any of them, let me entreat 
tiiem to remember " how he exhorted, and com- 
forted, and charged every one of them as a father 
doth his children, that they would walk worthy 
of God who hath called them to his kingdom and 
glory." And it may be possible that this brief 
notice of the departed ambassador of Christ may 
be read by an unconverted person who will re- 
member the solemn warnings of Samuel Mer- 
win. If this should be the case, it is my prayer 
that God would make it the means of leading 
that person to follow the advice of him who 
u being dead yet speak eth." I shall have occasion 
to mention the kindness of this father in Israel, 
in a subsequent part of my narrative. In Dr. 
Bangs' History, vol. iv, p. 304, may be found 
an interesting account of him. 

This year (1816) I saw a religious newspa- 
per for the first time. I had seen magazines 
and monthly religious publications, containing 
accounts of revivals, as well as essays and dis- 
cussions on different subjects, but a weekly pub- 
lication, devoted chiefly to religious intelligence, 
I had never seen before. This paper was the 
Religious Intelligencer, published by Nathan 
Whiting, at New-Haven, Connecticut. He was 
a Congregationalism and some of the articles 



54 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



which it contained were not exactly suited to 
my taste, but many other articles which I found 
were exceedingly interesting and useful to me. 
The missionary intelligence, especially, gave me 
enlarged views of the necessity of efforts for the 
conversion of the world. My mind had been 
somewhat deeply impressed with this subject, 
not long before, in reading the journal and let- 
ters of Harriet Newell ; but the weekly paper 
had a tendency to increase my sense of the im- 
portance of giving and laboring for the salvation 
of the heathen. In less than thirty years how 
greatly have religious newspapers been multi- 
plied ! What multitudes of them are now cir- 
culated through the length and breadth of our 
land ! And although it must be admitted that 
some harm has been done by improper articles 
in some of them, yet I am fully satisfied that 
multitudes are quickened in their religious 
course, and stirred up to greater diligence by 
these weekly messengers of mercy. The Chris- 
tian may be situated in such a place that he 
may feel as Elijah did, when he exclaimed, 
" They have thrown down thine altars, and slain 
thy prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, 
am left, and they seek my life to take it away." 
But when the religious newspaper is brought in, 
he finds in it an account of a revival in a far 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



55 



distant place, where he once resided, or under 
the labors of a minister with whom he was once 
conversant, perhaps one whom he encouraged 
to enter the ministry, and he exclaims, with a 
tear of joy glistening in his eye, " God hath not 
forsaken us in our bondage." 

While on this subject, let me briefly address 
the editors of religious papers, the persons who 
write articles for publication in them, and those 
who might write useful communications, but do 
not. Do the latter consider that to him that 
knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it 
is sin ? But perhaps they say, Our communica- 
tions may not be as useful as the compositions 
of others. Let them consider that the editors 
are expected to select the most useful, and 
when they shall find, by experiment, that their 
communications are generally rejected, it will 
be time enough to refrain from writing short ar- 
ticles for the periodical religious press. To 
those who do write, let me say, Your responsi- 
bility lo God is great. Do not write in a care- 
less, indolent, lazy manner. Whatever your 
mental energies are, consecrate them to God ; 
and use them in the best possible manner for 
the good of immortal souls. Some idea, record- 
ed by your pen, may be accompanied by God's 
blessing to the hearts of individuals whom you 



56 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



never will see till you meet them in a better 
world ; and there you may rejoice that your la- 
bor has not been in vain in the Lord. To wri- 
ters for, and editors of, religious papers, I would 
respectfully say, Never let literary ambition, 
personal resentment, pecuniary interest, or party 
feeling, lead you to write any article when you 
have reason to believe you might write some- 
thing else which would tend more to promote 
the glory of God and the good of man. 

About this time I felt strong impressions that 
it was my duty to converse personally with se- 
veral of my fellow-men on the subject of their 
souls' salvation : but fearing that I might do 
harm rather than good, I shrunk from the cross 
in most instances. Whether this was the cause 
of the severe trials of mind through which I 
passed in the winter of 1816-17, I cannot cer- 
tainly tell ; but I have often thought, while re- 
viewing the scenes of that melancholy season, 
that a more faithful compliance with the apostle's 
direction — " Do good to all men " — would have 
been attended with a greater degree of strength 
to endure mental trials. But during several 
weeks my mind was frequently in great heavi- 
ness, through manifold temptations, so that at 
times I feared that I had never known the joys 
of true religion. At one time I went to hear 



OF ELBERT OSBOEX. 



57 



Mr. Bushnell preach ; and after the sermon the 
little class were invited to tarry, as usual, for 
class meeting. I told Mr. B. in the class meet- 
ing that I felt as if I was traveling through the 
wilderness; it seemed as if the fiery flying ser- 
pents were all around me. By this I meant 
that the tempter harassed me with most tor- 
menting fears. The good man understood my 
meaning, and, by language which I shall never 
forget, encouraged me to trust in the Saviour. 
" Sometimes/' said he, " the tempted Christian 
is like a man in a pit, from which he cannot 
effect his escape, till afriend appears on the brink, 
and lets down a rope or chain to the sufferer ; 
he takes hold of it, but, as his friend begins to 
draw him up, he trembles, and exclaims, ' I'm 
afraid you will let me drop.' ' Hold on,' is the 
reply, ' and I will draw you out.' " This went 
to my heart with great power ; and often have 
those words occurred to my mind in subsequent 
trials many years after Mr. B. had been call- 
ed to rest in Abraham's bosom. 

At another time, when I was almost persuaded 
to believe that I had been irrevocably doomed 
to perdition before I had a being, and when 
my desponding feelings had begun to benumb 
my soul, these words were applied most power- 
fully to my heart : — u God so loved the world, 



58 



PASSAGES IX THE LIFE 



that he gave his only begotten Son, that -whoso- 
ever believeth in him should not perish, but 
have everlasting life." " Did God love the 
world V thought I : u ah ! surely I am one of 
that world of lost sinners whom God loved. It 
must be that he is really willing to save me. 
There can be no dire necessity of my eternal 
ruin." how my heart melted within me in 
view of this blessed passage of holy writ ! But 
it was some time before I was enabled to re- 
joice again in constant steadfast hope of the 
glory of God. In view of the mercy which 
carried me through that season of temptation, I 
can say, The Lord hath helped me. 

In the spring of 1817 the fourth quarterly 
meeting of the conference year was held in 
Reading. This was the last year of Rev. N. 
Bangs' presidency in the district, and of course 
it was, for the present at least, the last quar- 
terly meeting on the circuit at which we ex- 
pected to enjoy his labors. Through the rain, 
which fell plentifully on Saturday, my brother 
and myself went to the place of meeting, but 
found a stranger preaching when we entered 
the house. He was a man apparently about 
fifty years of age, and, if I rightly recollect, stout 
built, thick set, with long, flowing hair, and 
heavy eyebrows, and very plain in his dress, 



OF ELBEKT OSrBOBN. 



59 



and humble in his appearance. Perhaps it was 
the smallness of his eyes, which were deeply set 
in his head, that led me at first to suppose him 
a blind man. I soon perceived him to be a very 
pathetic preacher, and one who was filled with 
the Holy Ghost. Some of the people of God 
wept, and some shouted. The text appeared 
to be the latter part of the Lord's prayer, and 
the peculiar, earnest manner in which he uttered 
the word " glory," w T hile dwelling upon the lat- 
ter part of the text, was very striking : — " Now, 
dear brethren," said he, as he put up a finger 
to each eye, apparently to wipe away a tear 
or two, " you will permit me to stop and give 
God glory." My heart was melted, as well as 
the hearts of others, under the powerful appeals 
of this man of God. The Kev. A. Hunt, who 
lived near the church, fell in company with me 
after the close of the service, as he walked home. 
Knowing his affability, I inquired the name of 
the minister who had preached to us. " That 
was Bishop George," was his reply. Of this I 
had not the remotest idea before; but I was 
highly delighted to find that, although Asbury 
was dead, yet the church had been enabled to 
select as a successor one so apostolic in his spirit, 
and so earnest in his Master's work. 

On the next morning, which was clear and 



60 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



beautiful, I went to the love-feast: the good 
bishop was there ; and, what seemed remarka- 
ble to me, did not, to my recollection, open his 
eyes from the time the brethren commenced 
speaking till the last one had spoken. With his 
head resting against a pillar, he continued si- 
lent, and almost motionless, during the whole of 
that time : but doubtless his heart was lifted up 
to God in prayer and praise, for, when the love- 
feast was closed, and he ascended the pulpit and 
commenced the public services, he spoke like a 
man anointed from on high. His sermon on 
sabbath was equally impressive with the one 
preached on the day previous. Near the close 
of his discourse he made a most touching 
allusion to the dying words of Jesse Lee, 
who had a few months before closed his life in 
Virginia. 

In the place where we were worshiping the 
second class of Methodists in New-England was 
formed by Mr. Lee, about twenty-seven years 
previous. The first male member of that class 
(Rev. A. Sandford) was present, and several 
others who had been added to the church soon 
after Mr. S., besides many who had heard their 
parents and friends speak affectionately of Mr. 
Lee. And when the bishop repeated the fol- 
lowing expression of the good man on his death 



OF ELBER'JT OSBORN. 



61 



bed : — " Tell all my old friends that I am going 
to glory/'* the whole congregation seemed to 
be moved as trees by a mighty wind. I took 
up this morningf an old magazine of October, 
1828, and accidentally opened to the account of 
the death of Bishop George, written a short 
time after it occurred. Truly, the same blessed 
Jesus who was with one, went with the other of 
these holy men through the dark valley of the 
shadow of death. Other circumstances con- 
cerning this good man may be mentioned here- 
after. 

This unpretending narrative may be read by 
some lover of Christ, and of public worship, who 
may be providentially detained from the house 
of prayer, while the rest of the family have 
gone to the house of the Lord. Let me say to 
such, this was several times the case with 
me in the years 1814—15—1 6—17. It was al- 
ways a great trial to me to be thus situated, even 
for a single sabbath; but I have often found, 
in such circumstances, the Lord was able and 
willing to bless my soul abundantly. And I must 
be permitted to hope that this statement may 
encourage such a person to look unto Him who 

* If my recollection be correct, these were the words 
which the bishop repeated, 
t April 28, 1846. 



62 



PASSAGES IK THE LIFE 



u Resides everywhere. 
And can in all places give answer to prayer.' 1 

I believe it was in the latter part of the year 
1817 that a superannuated preacher, by the 
name of James Coleman, first preached at my 
father's house. His deep piety and simplicity 
pleased me; his recital of events and scenes 
which transpired in the early days of Method- 
ism interested me ; his preaching benefited me ; 
and his testimony of the goodness of God to his 
own soul incited me to press after higher attain- 
ments in the divine life. Notwithstanding, he 
had. perhaps unfortunately, acquired a habit of 
making frequent long pauses between sentences 
in the commencement of his sermon. When I 
first heard the good man preach I was alarmed at 
these pauses, fearing that he was becoming so 
embarrassed that he would be constrained to stop 
entirely ; but as he progressed he became more 
ready in his utterance, and my fears gave place 
to emotions of another kind. The subject of 
entire sanctification was one on which he de- 
lighted to dwell. He commenced his itinerant 
career in 1791, on a circuit near Pittsburgh, in 
a country which I suppose was then almost a 
wilderness. He spent a great part of his time, 
while he was able to travel, in those sections of 
the work where there was much labor and but 



OF ELBERT OSBOKX. 



63 



scanty support : but his work is with his God, 
and his reward is with the Most High.* Two 
or three years since he died in Ridgefield, Con- 
necticut, and left a world of sorrow for the land 
of rest. May I meet his happy spirit in the 
realms above ! 

In the year 1818 my mind was much drawn 
out in prayer for the spread of pure religion, 
and I was often filled with astonishment at the 
indifference and inactivity of many professing 
Christians. In Xovember, of that year, I went 
to visit a brother in the flesh, who resided 
twelve or fourteen miles from my father's house. 
A severe rain storm detained me two or three 
days longer than I expected. On the last even- 
ing which I spent there, one or two Christian 
friends came in : we united in prayer and 
praise : the Holy Ghost came down upon us, 
and I was more powerfully overwhelmed with 
a sense of the worth of immortal spirits than 
ever before. My brother's little son, sleeping 

* A minister of another church in the state of , 

once said to Mr. C, " You Methodists can do nothing 
here; we have our colleges, academies, and regular pa- 
rishes j you can do nothing hereP Mr. C. rubbing his 
hands together, and looking upward, (as he often did in 
religious exercises.) replied, i; We believe in perseverance" 
He lived to see about 15,000 communicants in the M. 
E. Church in that small state. 



64 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



in an adjoining room, hearing the strong cries 
which powerful emotions almost compelled me 
to pour forth, and awakened by the sound, was 
brought into the room to be quieted. The mo- 
ment my eyes beheld him I felt such a spirit 
of prayer for the little child as I could not then 
express, and cannot now describe. That child 
gladdened the hearts of his praying parents by 
seeking religion about seven years after that 
time. He afterward became a minister, and has 
been for about twelve years preaching Jesus to 
his fellow-men. Next day I returned home, and 
began more frequently to take an active part in 
religious meetings. Occasionally I prayed in 
small social circles, and God blessed me, in some 
instances abundantly, in so doing, with a 'sense 
of his approbation. With much trembling I 
sometimes rose to speak a word of exhortation ; 
and in this, too, I felt at times a very clear sense 
of God's presence ; yet, as the apostle speaks 
against the use of an unknown tongue in the 
church, I remained silent in the house of prayer 
on account of my impediment : for, although I 
had good reason to believe that most of my 
words were understood by the^ greater part of 
those who were present, yet I feared I might 
occupy time that would be more usefully em- 
ployed by others : and had not my brethren en- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



65 



couraged me, and frequently called on me to speak 
or pray, (though it was not customary for them 
to do so with regard to each other in general,) I 
might soon have relapsed into my former habits 
of silence. Whether it was a belief that my 
speaking would conduce to my own welfare, or 
because they thought it might be useful to others, 
or both, I cannot tell, but the encouragement 
which my feeble efforts received from the breth- 
ren in Greenfield and Greenfarms makes me 
feel very grateful to them even to this day. 
Some of those brethren and sisters are yet liv- 
ing, but several of them have gone to worship 
before the throne. Among the latter I must be 
permitted to mention the names of Bradford 
Craft, who was a local preacher, Peter Jennings, 
and his brother Joshua, all of precious memory, 
who, with others of their pious associates, have 
finished their course, and are now resting from 
their labors. 

Wesley's Sermons were then printed in nine 
small volumes, one of which, and the Saints' 
Everlasting Rest, fell into my hands about this 
time, through the kindness of the owners, who 
lent them to me. The former contained dis- 
courses on our Lord's sermon on the mount, 
which deeply impressed my mind ; and some 
portions of the latter powerfully excited me to 



66 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



diligence in laboring to persuade my fellow-men 

to seek the " everlasting rest" Much good may 
be done merely by lending useful books ; yet 
some object to this on account of the danger of 
losing them through the carelessness of borrow- 
ers. But if those who lend them would keep a 
little memorandum-book, and make a minute 
of every book lent, this might be in a great 
measure prevented. 

In the early part of the year 1819 1 was led 
to inquire whether it might not be my duty to 
offer my services to the church as an ambassa- 
dor of Christ : but my unworthiness and insuf- 
ficiency seemed too great to admit such a thought. 
I did not feel my mind so much drawn out to 
any particular mode of religious discourse, as I 
did to giving my whole time and energies to 
the work of recommending Jesus and his reli- 
gion to my fellow-men. I passed through many 
seasons of painfully anxious deliberation on this 
subject, while my diffidence prevented me from 
opening my mind to any human being on the 
subject. My impressions of the duty of going 
from house to house, to warn and invite men, 
also returned upon me. Sometimes in my lonely 
walks of meditation in the fields by moonlight, 
or starlight, like Jeremiah, I exclaimed, " Ah ! 
Lord Gpd, behold I cannot speak, for I am n 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



67 



child." Yet I continued occasionally to open 
my mouth for the Lord, in short exhortations, 
and was blessed in so doing. 

In the year 1820 Laban Clark and Phineas 
Cook traveled our circuit. I shall never forget 
the impressions made on my mind by a sermon 
preached by Mr. Cook from " The Lord will 
provide;" and another sermon by Mr. Clark, 
from 1 Thess. i, 5 : " For our gospel came not 
unto you in word only, but also in power, and 
in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance ; as 
ye know what manner of men we were among 
you for your sake." Under each of these ser- 
mons my heart was much affected, and I was 
encouraged to " trust in the Lord, and do good." 

The Methodist Magazine, which was com- 
menced in 1818, contained many articles which 
had a tendency to increase my zeal for the 
Lord. The " Short Sketches of Revivals of 
Religion in the Western Country," published 
in several successive numbers, were especially 
useful to me. I also formed an acquaintance 
with three young men, who, like myself, were 
striving to exhort sinners to come to Christ, 
and though they are now scattered abroad, and 
live far asunder from each other and from me, 
yet the happy seasons which we enjoyed are 
still fresh in my mind, and pleasing to my re- 



68 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



collection. Their names are Stephen Reming- 
ton, Moses Hill, and W. H. Dikeman. 

Feeling a desire to hold meetings in some 
adjacent neighborhoods, where the door was 
open, and not wishing to go beyond the bounds 
of propriety as a private member of the church, 
I asked for license to exhort. It was one of 
the heaviest crosses which I ever took up in my 
life, to speak to the preacher in private on this 
subject. Nothing but a sense of duty could 
have induced me to do it. The request was, 
however, readily laid before the class, and, with 
their consent, Mr. Clark kindly signed my li- 
cense. I endeavored to improve every oppor- 
tunity to hold meetings, particularly in neigh- 
borhoods where others did not appoint religious 
meetings. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



69 



CHAPTER II. 

THE AUTHOR A CLASS-LEADER, EXHORTER, 
AND LOCAL PREACHER, 1821-1823. 

Not long after, the preacher called on me to 
take charge of our little class, as the leader 
wished to have a change made. This was a 
very heavy cross, as my father and mother were 
members of it ; but I dared not refuse. 

In the spring of 1821, at a quarterly confer- 
ence, (the first which I ever attended,) my 
license to exhort was renewed by the Rev. E. 
Washburn, the presiding elder. When he in- 
quired of me concerning my faith in the doctrines 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I answered 
willingly in the affirmative ; and when he par- 
ticularized concerning some points, the preacher 
in charge, fearing, perhaps, that I might sup- 
pose the presiding elder was suspicious of my 
orthodoxy, observed to him, that he believed 
brother O. was a sound Methodist. The pre- 
siding elder smilingly replied, " He teas a few 
years ago, what there was of him" alluding to 
the circumstance that I was but a young boy in 
1814, when he was a preacher on the circuit. 
At that quarterly conference, also, the presiding 
elder urged very faithfully upon every exhorter 



70 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



and leader present, the duty of laboring with 
all their might to do good. He also alluded to 
glorious revivals which were going on in some 
parts of the district, mentioning the name of 
Mr. Maffitt as having been very useful in some 
places. This minister has since been seen and 
heard in a great many different places in our 
country, but I think this was the first time I 
ever heard of him. In the summer following, I 
had, however, the privilege of hearing this re- 
markable man, in an " upper room,*' in the bo 
rough of Bridgeport, and of seeing, on that 
occasion, about fifty or sixty persons present 
themselves, at one time, for the prayers of the 
people of God. 

About this time I met with an aged gentle- 
man from Ireland who affirmed that he knew 
Adam Clarke when a boy, and lived near neigh- 
bor to his father. He related a circumstance, 
which, if true, (and perhaps it may be,) will 
interest the admirers of Dr. Clarke.* After 
Dr. C. had been long absent from Ireland, and 
had obtained great eminence, he made a jour- 
ney thither, went to the house where he dwelt 
in the days of early youth, and made some in- 

* If this be a correct statement, it probably happened 
in June, 1811. See Dr. Clarke's Life, book vii, pp. 
140-142. 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



71 



quiries about a particular room. The woman 
of the house, not suspecting him to be Dr. C, 
replied, " That room is said to be the room 
where the great Dr. Clarke used to say his 
prayers." The stranger proposed to enter, but 
the poor woman objected, probably because she 
thought it was not in decent condition for the 
gentleman to enter ; but he urged his way in, 
fell upon his knees, and offered up fervent, vocal 
prayer to the Most High. When he arose, the 
woman was weeping, and the stranger then said, 
" He whom you call the great Dr. Clarke thinks 
very lowly of himself, and I am he." 

In the years 1821 and 1822, I attended two 
camp meetings on the same ground, at what 
was then called Musketoe Cove, Long Island, 
about twenty miles from the city of New- 
York. With a number of others, I crossed over 
in a sloop to the camp ground, which was near 
the shore. Several circumstances occurred at 
these camp meetings which I distinctly remem- 
ber, but cannot assign each one of them to the 
particular meeting at which it occurred, whether 
in 1821, or the following year. What I record, 
therefore, will be without making any particu- 
lar distinction between the two meetings. 

Here, for the first time, I saw Joshua Soule, 
since a bishop of the Methodist E. Church, 



72 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



P. P. Sandford, who has recently been one of 
the book agents of our church, William Thacher, 
of whom I heard as a presiding elder when I 
was a little boy. and who took charge of the 
first camp meeting held north of the city of 
New- York, Heman Bangs, Marvin Richardson, 
Stephen Martindale, and Lewis Pease, all of 
whom have since been called, in different dis- 
tricts, to take charge of their brethren in the 
ministry, and one of whom (Mr. Pease) now 
sleeps in Jesus. Here, too, I first saw and heard 
John J. Matthias, who has repeatedly been call- 
ed to act in the same important relation to the 
church, and William Ross, who soon after that 
meeting finished his work. Of those living I 
must be sparing of my remarks, however highly 
I may esteem them ; but of the departed I may 
speak with more freedom. 

How pathetically did Mr. Pease, at one of 
those meetings, address us on the prayer of the 
publican, and with what solemnity did he preach 
at the other meeting, from the words of the 
Psalmist ! " In the hand of the Lord there is a 
cup, and the wine is red^ it is full of mixture; 
and he poureth out of the same : but the dregs 
thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring 
them out and drink them." Psa. lxxv, 8. 

Mr. Maffitt's sermon, at one of those meet- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



73 



ings, was on the text ending with these words : 
" Consider this, ye that forget God, lest he tear 
you in pieces, and there be none to deliver." A 
powerful impression was made on the vast as- 
sembly, and, when the preacher sat down, brother 
Heman Bangs arose, and with a loud, but very 
solemn voice, exclaimed, " Glory to God." 
Pausing for a moment amid the responses of 
many in the congregation, he made the inquiry, 
" Why ?" and then answering his own inquiry, 
he said, u Because these sinners are out of hell. 
Now there is one to deliver." Soon a large 
number of weeping mourners collected together 
to be prayed for by the people of God, and the 
scenes of that afternoon I shall not soon forget. 
After the lapse of years, I have met with differ- 
ent individuals, in places remote from each other, 
who have referred to that camp meeting as the 
place of their repentance and conversion. Here 
I saw, for the first time, that father in Israel, 
and veteran soldier in camp-meeting warfare, 
Joseph Smith, of New- York, who has since fol- 
lowed his pious son, Rev. John M. Smith, to the 
land of unending rest. 

I also saw one of the good ministers whom 
I have mentioned so blessed at one of those 
camp meetings, that his bodily strength failed 
him, while he was on the stand ; and many years 



74 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



afterward, when in conversation with me, he 
said, " I never shall forget that blessed season." 
He now r holds a very responsible place in the 
church, and Las repeatedly filled a seat in her 
highest council. "Strive to enter in at the 
strait gate," was the solemn text from which 
Rev. Mr. Ross addressed us in a most powerful 
manner. This was the first and only sermon 
which I ever heard him preach. In about two 
years from that time he went to his reward. I 
will observe, that but a few weeks after this, I 
heard that he had preached a sermon at a camp 
meeting in Connecticut, which was made the 
means, in the hands of God, of the awakening 
of a young woman, who went to that meeting 
without any special desires for religion, but found 
the Saviour before its close. That was the first 
camp meeting she ever attended, and at her first 
arrival she could hardly conceal her dissatisfac- 
tion with the proceedings of the meeting, but 
prejudice gave way to conviction, and she re- 
turned home rejoicing. At that time I had 
never seen her, or heard of her, neither was I 
at that camp meeting ; but some years afterward, 
through the providence of God, an acquaintance 
was formed, which resulted in our union for 
life, as fellow-travelers to Mount Zion. 

But to return to the camp meeting on Long 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



75 



Island. An interview occurred between bro- 
ther N. W. Thomas and myself, which I com- 
municated for publication in the Child's Maga- 
zine. As some may see this, who have not seen 
that, I will repeat it here. Mr. T. closed the 
exercises by prayer, at the stand, on the first 
evening after my arrival. I had not seen him 
since I was about nine years old, and now I was 
about twenty-one. I resolved to embrace the 
first opportunity of speaking to him, as he had 
often preached at my father's house. Perhaps 
it was the next day, that, seeing him standing 
near a tent, I ventured to approach him, and 
calling him by name, inquired if he recollected 
preaching at the house of Levi Osborn, in Green- 
field, Conn., several years since. He told me 
that he did. I then inquired if he remembered 
his youngest son. " Yes," said he ; " are you 
that little boy?" When told that I was, he 
threw his arms around my neck, lifted up his 
eyes to heaven, and expressed his surprise and 
gratification, to meet me in the land of the liv- 
ing, and on my way to glory. 

On our return from one of these camp meet- 
ings, there were on board of the sloop some 
very gay, thoughtless young people, who ap- 
peared very unwilling that we should have re- 
ligious exercises on board. But as this privilege 



76 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



was usually granted to passengers going to, and 
returning from, camp meeting, we referred the 
matter to the captain, who gave his consent, and 
a very solemn, joyful meeting we had, as the 
vessel glided over the blue waters. Meantime 
our thoughtless friends seemed to eye us with a 
degree of contempt. One young man, especi- 
ally, I noticed, who manifested much unwilling- 
ness to have religious exercises on board. We 
landed; he went his way, and I went to the 
house of prayer, where brother Craft preached, 
and wished me to exhort after him. But a 
young brother, who had found the Lord but a 
few months before, was so full of zeal that he 
arose immediately after the preacher sat down, 
and with a warm heart, and flowing tears, began 
to beseech sinners to turn to the Lord. Pre- 
sently some of them began to weep ; we soon 
commenced a prayer meeting, and three per- 
sons, who had not been to the camp meeting, 
found the Lord that evening. About two weeks 
after this, being at the place where I landed at 
our return from the camp meeting, a young 
man met me, and very kindly extended his 
hand ; I soon perceived it was the young man 
who was so unwilling to have prayer, praise, and 
exhortation, on board of the sloop. Without 
waiting for me to make any inquiry, he joyfully 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



77 



told me the good news, that he had met with a 
great change, and he now felt it to be a privi- 
lege, rather than a hardship, to unite with Chris- 
tians in worshiping the God of love. 

As my exercises on the subject of devoting 
myself to the work of the ministry continued, 
I ventured to mention it to brother L. Clark, 
the preacher in charge, who laid the case be- 
fore the society, by whom I was recommended as 
a proper person to be licensed as a local preach- 
er. The district conference, composed of all 
the local preachers in a presiding elder's district, 
was then in operation, having been but recently 
established by the authority of the General Con- 
ference. The district conference had authority 
to license such persons as local preachers as 
they thought proper, provided they were re- 
commended by the society and the quarterly 
conference where they belonged. In the quar- 
terly conference I was recommended to the dis- 
trict conference, which was to be held in Februa- 
ry, 1822, at Burlington, Connecticut, about forty 
miles from Reading, where I was residing at 
this time, with my brother, who employed me 
for a few months in his shop. Rev. Hawly 
Sandford, a son of the Rev. Aaron Sandford, 
whom I have before mentioned, kindly consent- 
ed to take me in his carriage. Accordingly, on 



76 



PASSAGES IN THE LlYE 



the morning of the first sabbath in February I 
started early, walked about three miles to bro- 
ther San libra's house, and went -nth him to a 
neighborhood in Newtown, where he had an 
;uu ointment :: preach two sermons that day. 
He was a local preacher, and had formerly been a 
traveling preacher, and still labored extensively, 
Perhaps he had as much influence as any other 
local preacher on the circuit. His conversation 
with me that morning was serious, friendly, and 
instructive. I had never formally preached, 
but he proposed to me to preach for him in the 
afternoon Although almost entirely unac- 
quainted with every person - place. I dared 
not refuse, and a: the hos- :: the morning ser- 
vice he gave notice that I would preach in the 
afternoon. Alter a short intermission I preached 
from Mic. vi. 6. and felt thankful to God for that 
degree of liberty with which I was favored. We 
then went to the house of brother Newton Tut- 
tle, a local preacher in the south part of South- 
bury, where brother S. had an appointment, 
On our way he requested me to preach in the 
evening, and again I had cause to thank the 
Lord that he did not forget me in my weak- 
ness. Next morning it snowed j but, as we were 
yet more than twenty miles from the place where 
the district conference was to meet, we slowly 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



79 



pressed our way along, leaving an appointment 
for brother S. to preach in a place where there 
was no Methodist society, for the next Friday 
evening, when he returned. I now began to 
feel as though I was in a strange land, never 
having been so far from my father's house 
before, though I was not yet very far from 
home. We did not reach Burlington that day, 
on account of the snow, but went through Beth- 
lehem, where we found brother Julius Field, 
a young traveling preacher, who was laboring 
on that circuit, and several local preachers on 
their way to the district conference. One of 
them preached that evening, and when he sat 
down I was (very unexpectedly to myself) call- 
ed upon to exhort. At first I endeavored to 
excuse myself, but the importunity of the breth- 
ren prevailed. Next day we went to Burling- 
ton, and arrived just as the conference had closed 
its session for that day. Some considerable un- 
certainty rested on my mind in reference to my 
success in my application for license. The 
doubtfulness of my succeeding was increased by 
the consideration that the local preacher best 
acquainted with me (Mr. B. Craft) was pre- 
vented by the storm from coming in season, and 
only one of those present (Mr. Sandford) had 
ever heard me preach. But I committed my 



80 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



case to the Lord, knowing that my motive was 
to please him, and if he saw it best for me not 
to obtain license, I wished that it might be pre- 
vented ; but if it was for his glory, that he would 
give me favor in the eyes of his servants. The 
next morning after our arrival I was called be- 
fore the conference for examination ; Rev. S. 
Merwin, presiding elder of the district, was 
chairman. He had no personal acquaintance 
with me, and when I replied to his first 
question, he fixed his keen eye upon me very 
attentively. I learned afterward that when 
he first heard my singular voice, he thought 
the brethren on Reading circuit must be almost 
crazy to recommend such a man for license to 
preach, for he was absent, in consequence of 
illness, when the quarterly conference examined 
and recommended me. Those who have seen 
him, and remember his piercing eye, can form 
some idea of my feelings when passing my ex- 
amination under his searching look. Yet there 
was no unkindness in his manner. I afterward 
learned that, when the conference began to de- 
liberate on my case, (after I had retired,) the 
prevailing opinion at first seemed to be that they 
could not then give me license, on account of 
the difficulty in my speech ; but the statements 
and arguments of my good friend brother Sand- 



OF ELBEKT OSBORX. 



81 



ford prevailed, and I was licensed as a preacher 
of the gospel. At the same time and place 
Stephen L. Stillnian was licensed to preach. 
There were two or three other applications 
which were not successful. On Friday morn- 
ing brother Sandford told me that the business 
of the conference would not permit him to leave 
soon enough to fill the appointment he had left 
on the way, and he wished me to take his horse 
and carriage, and go there and preach to the 
people. Good brother N. Tuttle, one of the 
oldest local preachers in the conference, hap- 
pening to be present, encouraged me to go for- 
ward, observing, "You must go praying along 
through the snow," alluding to the unpleasant 
traveling on wheels while snow was lying on 
the ground. This good man's words have often 
come to my mind when I have been riding in 
similar circumstances, years after he had gone 
to his rest above. I have never found a better 
way than to u go praying." Accordingly I started, 
and, after a tedious journey of about twenty 
miles, arrived at the house of the person where 
I was to find entertainment. He was a friend 
to the Methodist Church, though not a member ; 
and when I informed him for what purpose I 
had been sent there, he told me plainly that 
he did not think it would be best for me to at- 
6 



82 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



tempt to preach there, as the people would not 
understand me, and it would only bring dis- 
grace on the cause. This was the beginning 
of my efforts after I had received license to 
preach ; but, though trying to my feelings, I 
soon perceived that it was working for my good. 
And I will here say that, about eighteen months 
afterward, that same man very gladly consented 
for me to preach in the same place. But to re- 
turn. After the congregation had assembled, 
just at the time for meeting to commence, Mr. 
Sandford arrived, in company with two other 
ministers, and filled his own appointment, much 
to my satisfaction and that of the people. 

Some of my first efforts to preach were in 
school-houses and private houses, in neighbor- 
hoods where there was no regular sabbath 
preaching. The first instance of awakening 
which occurred, to my knowledge, through my 
feeble efforts, was in the town of Weston, a 
very few weeks after I was licensed. The in- 
dividual united with another branch of the 
Christian church, but soon went home to her 
Father's house on high. In the course of a 
few months other cases took place, which en- 
couraged me in my Master's work. Among 
other places where I attempted to preach Jesus, 
I went to the house of a good brother in Eidge 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



83 



field, Jabez M. Gilbert, who is still living, and 
whose son is now a minister of the New- York 
Conference. As there was then no Methodist 
church in that town, his own house was used 
for preaching, and some happy seasons have I 
enjoyed there, both in public meetings and in 
religious conversation with the good man and 
his family. 

About this time several of my intimate friends 
were induced to leave the Methodist E. Church, 
but I have always been thankful that I felt no 
disposition to follow their example. 

My conviction's of duty, as to devoting myself 
wholly to the ministry, continuing, I opened my 
mind, with much trepidation, to a kind father in 
the ministry, on the subject of applying for ad- 
mission into the traveling connection. This 
was about six months after I was licensed to 
preach. He frankly told me that, in conse- 
quence of my impediment, and as so large a 
proportion of the conference were perfect stran- 
gers to rne, he thought it very doubtful whether 
I should be admitted, observing very kindly, at 
the same time, that if the majority of the confer- 
ence knew me as well as he and some others 
did, he thought there would be no difficulty. As 
I saw no way to perform what I considered to 
be duty but to do what I could, I concluded to 



84 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



spend my time in preaching, personal religious 
conversation, and suitable studies, till my little 
stock of means (not quite one hundred dollars) 
was exhausted, and then to engage again in 
manual labor, till I could refit myself with plain, 
cheap raiment, and then spend another season 
exclusively in ministerial labors. This was the 
course I had marked out to pursue, unless the 
door should open for my entering the regular 
work as traveling preacher. In the mean time 
I intended to make the necessary application to 
the proper authorities for admission, and if I 
failed, I could but fail. 

I found no difficulty in obtaining suitable 
places for preaching, in different neighborhoods, 
both on sabbath and week days. But a great 
trial was at hand. My father, though a Method- 
ist, and I believe a good man, could not see it 
my duty to spend my whole time in attending 
meetings. He hired me (as I was out of my 
minority*) when I was not absent, engaged in 
preaching, and he wished to continue to hire me. 
But I felt something of what the apostle ex- 
pressed when he said, w Wo is me if I preach 
not the gospel." It was in September, 1822, I 
think, when my father and myself were labor- 

* I had returned from my brothers to my father's 
house, in the spring of 1822. 



OP ELBERT OSBORN. 



85 



ing in the field together, that I told him of my 
determination to travel and preach. Never can 
I forget the reply, which went like a dagger to 
my heart : " It would be more afflictive to me, 
my son, to have you do so, than it would for 
me to follow you to the tomb/' But filial affec- 
tion could not absolve me from what I consider- 
ed to be the claims of duty to God. Early in 
October I left my dear father and mother, with 
an intention to fill some appointments which I 
had made, and to make other appointments. 
The feelings of my heart (as I walked along the 
road, after I had gone a few rods from my 
father's house) were of the most tender kind, and 
drew tears from my eyes. But God supported 
me, and I prayed for my parents, that he would 
support them also. 

A revival had recently commenced in Read- 
ing, under the labors of Mr. Maffitt. He had 
left for some other place, but the work was still 
going on. I went thither, and was kindly re- 
ceived by both preachers and people. I rejoiced 
with the young converts, pointed the mourners 
to Christ, warned sinners to repent, and preach- 
ed Jesus to the people. After a very few days 
spent in this manner, I went to other places. 
In different parts of the towns of Danbury, 
Eidgefield, Wilton, and North Salem, I preach- 



86 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



ed, in weakness, the gospel of Christ, and met 
with more encouragement from the people of 
God than I had anticipated. In North Salem I 
fell in with an aged traveling minister who pro- 
posed to me that I should fill three or four of 
his week-day appointments. It was late in the 
afternoon before he met me at the place where 
he had appointed to give me the necessary di- 
rections. As soon as he had given me these, I 
started on foot to go a number of miles to 
the first appointment. I was a stranger to the 
way, and a part of it was lonely, while another 
part of it lay through a neighborhood called 
Sodom Corner. As the sun declined low in the 
west, and I reflected that I was going among a 
people who neither knew me nor expected me, 
my heart well nigh sunk within me. But I 
looked to God for support, and pressed forward. 
When the labors of the evening were finished, 
I could praise God for permitting me to bear 
the cross for my dear Lord and Saviour. 

The Rev. Samuel Cochran, who finished his 
course in May, 1845, was then (1822) preach- 
ing in the Reading circuit. At one time he 
asked me to go to a place to labor, where there 
was an old, intelligent society. " Do you think 
I can do any good if I go?" was my inquiry. 
He answered me by another laconic question 



OF ELBERT OSBOEX. 



87 



" Do you suppose that God has called you to 
preach, and you cannot do any good?" This 
question of his has often occurred to my mind, 
long since it was asked, when I have been 
tempted to neglect effort through fear that / 
could do no good. At another time when he 
met our class, and I spoke something of my 
temptations, he said, " Elbert, as the devil has 
troubled you so much by his temptations, if I 
were in your place, I would do all the injury to 
his kingdom that I possibly could." 

In the early part of December I applied to 
the quarterly conference for recommendation to 
the traveling connection. This was granted, 
but, as I afterward learned, it was after some 
hesitation, and with the understanding that the 
presiding elder should employ me before the 
annual conference met, so that he might know 
whether it would answer for him to recommend 
me as a traveling preacher. I was invited to 
lodge at the same house where the presiding 
elder did. He proposed to me to go to Dur- 
ham circuit, and assist brother Bowen and 
brother Nixon, a few weeks. He gave me to 
understand that it would not only be acceptable 
to the people there, to have the help of a young 
preacher, but he desired to give me a trial among 
strangers. He informed me that if I could go 



88 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



to the circuit, lie presumed that some brother 
would willingly lend me a horse to use on the 
circuit. A few days after this, I left my father's 
house, not knowing a single person, either 
preacher or private member, on the circuit. 

Such articles as were absolutely necessary I 
carried in a small bundle, and walked about 
twenty-six miles, to the city of New-Haven, 
where I inquired for Elias Gilbert, on whom I 
had been directed to call by brother Merwin, the 
presiding elder. When informed who had sent 
me, and where I was going, he received me 
kindly. Next day I walked through the snow 
(which was falling) to Hamden Plains, four 
miles distant. Here I called on Amos Ben- 
ham, as directed by brother M., and before night 
had the privilege of meeting Pev. J. Bowen, 
and giving him a letter of introduction from the 
presiding elder. Here, too, I was received with 
kindness by the family and by the minister, and 
the next day preached in the afternoon and even- 
ing. During the seven weeks following, I 
preached in Hotehkistown, Bethany, Prospect, 
Cheshire, Meriden, Southington, Black Eock, 
Durham, Middlefield, Haddam, Ponsett, and 
Wallingford ; and at some of these places a 
number of times. One evening I attended a 
watch-nie r ht at Hamden Plains, where brother 



OF ELBEHT OSBORX. 



89 



Merwin and brother Samuel Luckey (then sta- 
tioned in Xew-Haven) preached, and where 
they insisted I should preach also. It was a 
heavy cross, but the Lord enabled me to bear 
it. In February. 1823. I went to the district 
conference at Middlebury, Conn., and here I re- 
ceived a recommendation, from that body, to be 
received on trial as a traveling preacher. It 
was here that I first saw and heard that holy, 
but singular man of God, James P. Horton, of 
Dutchess county, a local preacher, in whose 
conversion there had been a mighty display of 
divine grace. 

Here I received directions to go to Amenia 
circuit in Dutchess county, X. Y.. to fill a va- 
cancy for a few weeks. So I returned my horse 
to the owner, and walked through Xew-Haven 
to Stratford, where I arrived on Saturday even- 
ing. Here I spent the sabbath, preaching twice 
myself, and hearing a good sermon from a holy 
man of God. Mr. AVilcox, a local preacher. He 
was one of Mr. Merwin's spiritual children, who 
had been awakened and converted about twenty- 
one years before, when Mr. M. was but young 
in the ministry. He, too, has left a world of 
trial for the home of the blessed. Next day I 
reached my fathers house, where I spent a day 
or two. and then, obtaining the loan of a horse 



90 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



from a brother, I went to Amenia. On the 
second day I reached the circuit. There was a 
little misunderstanding on the part of the presid- 
ing elder concerning the wishes of the preacher 
having charge of the circuit, which produced a 
degree of unpleasant feeling in my mind. On 
the first sabbath morning after my arrival, when 
I awoke, looked out of the window, and beheld 
the house of God where I was to preach that 
morning to a company of entire strangers, I was 
ready to wish myself at my father's house, if I 
could have been there with a good conscience. 
At the close of the service I felt much more 
peaceful, yea, I had a measure of joy in Christ. 
In the afternoon I had an appointment a few 
miles from the church, in a small house on the 
side of the mountain. I think it was a log 
house, the first which I was ever in. Here my 
soul was still more refreshed, and when, in the 
evening, I returned to the church to attend a 
prayer meeting, I found it good, yea, very good, 
to be there. Next day I felt willing to go to 
the different places on the circuit, and invite 
souls to Christ. 

Ten weeks I spent on that circuit, and found 
the people generally kind, and though some of 
them were wealthy, many, even of them, were 
humble. There had been a very gracious re- 



OP ELBERT OSBORN. 



91 



vival on the circuit during the year previous, 
under the labors of the Rev. Daniel Bray ton, 
who was still laboring among them. When the 
quarterly meeting came, I inquired of Mr. Mer- 
win whether I had better procure a horse, sad- 
dle, bridle, &c, so as to be prepared to go to a 
circuit when conference closed its session, if I 
should be received, or whether the probability 
was so small as not to warrant me in so doing. 
His reply encouraged me to make the necessary 
preparations. When the preachers returned 
from conference, I was informed that I was 
received on trial, and appointed to Goshen 
circuit, Litchfield county, Connecticut. 

At that time Upper Canada was connected 
with the M. E. Church in the United States. 
Before the information from conference ar- 
rived, and while I was filling brother Cochran's 
appointments on Reading circuit, during his ab- 
sence at conference, my dear mother said to 
me, " You will not go to Canada if you are ap- 
pointed there ; will you ?" But I dared not say 
that I should decline going even to Canada : for I 
had said to the presiding elder, " If this confer- 
ence should be full, so that I am not wanted 
here, and there are other conferences where my 
labors are needed, I am willing to go." But 
Providence kindly directed me to a field of labor 



92 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



less than sixty miles from my native place. 1 
have no doubt that considerable effort was ne- 
cessary on the part of my presiding elder, and 
other friends in the conference, to convince a 
majority of their brethren of the propriety of 
employing me as an itinerant minister, and my 
prayer is, that those who voted to admit me 
among their number may have cause to re- 
joice in the day of Christ, that I have not la- 
bored in vain. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



93 



CHAPTER III. 

TWO YEARS OF PROBATION IN THE ITINE- 
RANT MINISTRY 1823, 1824. TWO YEARS ON 

BURLINGTON CIRCUIT 1825, 1826. 

On the 12th of June, 1823, 1 left my father's 
house for Goshen. The first night I tamed 
with brother Tuttle, the local preacher whom I 
have already mentioned. Next day I went to 
Goshen, and called on brother T. Munson, a stew- 
ard of the circuit, whose attachment to the cause 
of Christ, and steadfastness in the faith of the 
gospel, have been witnessed by many of the min- 
isters of Christ. The preacher in charge of the 
circuit was brother Brayton, with whom I had 
formed an acquaintance in Amenia. The cir- 
cuit embraced appointments in Goshen, Corn- 
wall, Milton, Litchfield, Sharon, Canaan, Nor- 
folk, Kent, Warren, New- Preston, and New- 
Milford. 

It was but a short time after I went to Go- 
shen circuit, that a young man was awakened 
under one of my feeble sermons. He had long 
been the subject of parental prayer, and had a 
praying wife also. He did not immediately 
yield to conviction, but a short time afterward 



94 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



was more deeply awakened in hearing brother 
Merwin. In a few days he went to a camp 
meeting at Burlington, where (after strong cries 
and supplications) he was joyfully set at liberty. 
He now resides hundreds of miles from Goshen, 
and from my residence also. But a few months 
since I heard of his continued attachment to the 
cause of Christ ; and a day or two ago the good 
news reached my ears of the conversion of his 
son, a student in college. The awakening and 
conversion of that man, and a few others in dif- 
ferent parts of the circuit, encouraged me to 
continue my efforts in preaching the gospel. 

At the camp meeting just mentioned was a 
holy woman — Elvira Stillman* — with whom, 
and her amiable companion, I formed an ac- 
quaintance. Her simplicity in witnessing for 
God, her fervor in prayer and praise, her cour- 
ageous yet prudent manner of warning the luke- 
warm professor and the careless sinner, have 
left an indelible impression on my mind. At 
the same camp meeting I became acquainted 
with Elisha West and his pious wife, who re- 
sided in Burlington. They seemed to take a 
deep interest in the temporal welfare of the 
preachers, and were still more solicitous for their 

* See an account of this eminent saint in Tract No 
95, published by the Methodist Tract Society. 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



95 



spiritual prosperity. To lead the younger minis- 
ters nearer to God, and to encourage them to 
plunge deeper into the divine fullness, was the 
delight of their hearts. But they have gone to 
their eternal home ; and " they, being dead, yet 
speak." 

In the east part of Sharon was a grave which 
I delighted to visit, and around which I loved 
to linger. It was the grave of Rev. Gad Smith, 
who died in the year 1817. His course in the 
ministry was short, but marked by faithfulness 
and success. In pastoral visiting he was emi- 
nently useful. I never saw him, but had heard 
much of his piety, humility, and zeal. I have 
been told that when his voice failed, so that he 
could not speak above a whisper, he would rise 
in the congregation and address them through 
a brother, who repeated his words in an audi- 
ble voice to the people : and, when riding along 
the road, he would sometimes call the little 
children, whom he passed, to his side, and talk 
to them about the love of Jesus. His brother 
Horatio was a steward and leader on this circuit 
when I traveled there. His faithfulness in his 
official duties, his kind hospitality, his regular 
attendance with his family upon the means of 
grace, and his consistency of conduct, which was 
evident to all, have enshrined that good man in 



96 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



my affections and in my memory. He was a 
member of the legislature of the state, first in 
the lower and afterward in the upper house. 
But elevation in office did not lead him from 
the feet of Jesus. One of his sons, who was, 
perhaps, between ten and fifteen years old when 
I first knew the family, has since been converted, 
called to the ministry, blessed in his labors, and 
taken home to glory, to join his sainted father 
in the songs of the blessed. I refer to Rev. 
Gad N. Smith, who died in the city of New- 
York in 1845. Frequently have I seen him, 
when a lad, enter the Methodist church in Corn- 
wall, and take his seat by his father, to hear the 
gospel from my lips. may I be permitted to 
sit down with them in the kingdom of God ! 

In the autumn of the year I was permitted 
to visit my dear parents, and though one of 
them had objected so strongly to my entrance 
into the itinerant ministry, yet they both seemed 
very glad to see me. On my return, I spent a 
little time at the district conference held in 
Reading. Among those licensed to preach on 
that occasion were Raphael Gilbert, now a su- 
perannuated preacher in the New-York Confer- 
ence, and Charles Sherman, who died in the 
city of Troy, March 10, 1844. The latter was 
the son of Elijah Sherman, of Woodbury, Con- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 97 

necticut. The father was a pattern of plain- 
ness in dress and manners, and regularity and 
zeal in the worship and service of his God. 
The son, who was licensed to preach when about 
twenty years of age, and who entered the trav- 
eling connection about seven years afterward, 
proved to be a burning and shining light, thereby 
verifying the prediction which Samuel Merwin 
once made in my hearing : " I think," said he, 
" that Charles will become a star of the first 
magnitude." In the afternoon of the day in 
which the district conference closed, I rode se- 
veral miles in company with brother C. Sher- 
man, preached in a school-house in the evening, 
and then went four miles further to his pious 
father's house, a habitation which had long been 
known as one of the preachers' homes. The 
next day, which was Saturday, I reached my 
circuit, and was ready for the duties of the sab- 
bath. Before I pass on I will mention one cir- 
cumstance which occurred not long before 
Charles Sherman and his pious father met in- 
the realms of bliss, for there was but a short in- 
terval between the deaths of the two. The son 
came from his distant residence to visit his aged 
and infirm father. The old man's memory had 
so failed him that could not recollect his own 
children. His house was near the house of 
7 



98 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



God, and his son, while at home, preached 
in the church. After preaching, the father 
kindly approached the preacher, unconscious of 
his being one of his own family, and said, 
u Brother, will you go home with us ? we enter- 
tain the preachers sometimes ;" — thus showing 
that though he had forgotten many things, he 
was " not forgetful to entertain strangers." 

Before the conference year closed we had a re- 
vival of religion in one part of our circuit, which 
greatly rejoiced my heart; yet, in reviewing the 
labors of that year, I mourn that I was not more 
faithful. It is possible that some persons, who 
might then have been led to Christ, had I been 
more watchful and zealous, are now in the world 
of wo. I do not think that I was fully sensible 
of the relative importance of pastoral visiting, 
till I had been in the ministry nearly seven 
years. Perhaps much more good might have 
been effected had I been as faithful in this de- 
partment of labor as some of my brethren. A 
" course of study " was officially recommended 
to me and all the probationers of the conference ; 
and we expected to be examined by a commit- 
tee after we had been two years on trial. Among 
the books which I perused, in compliance with 
that recommendation, were Mosheim's Ecclesi- 
astical History, Rollin's History, part of Clarke's 



OF ELBERT OSBOKX. 



99 



and part of Benson's Commentary. Prideaux's 
Connections, Locke on the Human Understand- 
ing, and Wesley's Sermons, were, I think, in- 
cluded. Our attention was also directed to 
grammar, logic, and rhetoric. "Watson's incom- 
parable Institutes and evangelical Exposition 
had not then been published on this side of the 
Atlantic. Having but few books of my own, I 
was thankful for the privilege of borrowing some 
of the books recommended, from my colleague, 
and other friends on the circuit. 

While reading for the improvement of the 
mind, I did not feel willing to neglect the culti- 
vation of religious affections in the heart. Re- 
ligious biography, I have already remarked, 
was rendered peculiarly useful to me. Per- 
haps no work of that kind ever did me more 
good than the " Memoir of William Bramwell," 
which fell into my hands about this time. So 
highly do I prize that work, that I have more 
than once called attention to it through our reli- 
gious paper, and should this notice of it add one 
more to the number of the readers of that good 
book, it would gladden my heart. 

In Jane, 1824, the New- York Annual Con- 
ference held its session. My colleague attend- 
ed, but I continued on the circuit, endeavoring 
to promote the little revival which had com- 



100 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



menced in one neighborhood. When the 
preacher returned, he informed me that Rev. A. 
Scholefield was appointed preacher in charge of 
the Goshen circuit, to which I was reappointed. 
It will be remembered that I have stated that 
this good man commenced his labors as an itine- 
rant preacher on Reading circuit. Then, when 
I was a lad of ten years old, I saw and heard 
him ; but had not seen him from that time till 
fourteen years afterward, when he was appointed 
my senior colleague on Goshen circuit; and a 
most kind and fatherly colleague I found him. 
We labored together in harmony, but saw no 
very remarkable result of our labors. He had 
been attending the General Conference, in Bal- 
timore, of which he was a member, and some- 
times entertained me with descriptions of some 
of the most eminent men in that body, and by 
narrating some of the conversations that passed 
between them. 

In the course of this year I attended three 
camp meetings. The first was at Burlington, 
Conn., under the superintendence of our new 
presiding elder, Rev. S. Luckey. It was a good 
meeting to many, and especially to one of the 
ministers, who was abundantly blessed of the 
Lord. One of the conversions which took place 
at this meeting I will advert to in few words. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



101 



It was that of a youth, the son of one who had 
been serving God ever since the days of Jesse 
Lee's travels in New-England, and who had 
come with this son (I believe the youngest) to 
the camp meeting, praying and hoping he would 
be induced to seek the Lord. Time passed 
away, but the son remained indifferent, and 
seemed inclined rather to trifle away his time, 
than to be even an attentive hearer of the truth. 
The father was grieved, and had thoughts of 
taking the son home before the meeting closed, 
fearing he would receive injury rather than 
good. I was a perfect stranger to the young 
man, and then knew nothing of these circum- 
stances. But on the last evening of the meet- 
ing, during a very solemn and pathetic address 
which was given from the stand, I observed a 
young man listening attentively, till he began 
to weep, and, turning his back to the speaker, 
walked away among the trees. The thought 
occcurred that probably he was affected by the 
word, and, being unwilling to yield, was endea- 
voring to hide his conviction. " Shall I not 
make an effort to do him good?" was the in- 
quiry which arose in my mind. My resolution 
was formed immediately, and before I had lost 
sight of him, I started to overtake him. Com- 
ing up gently behind him, I inquired concerning 



102 



PASSAGES IX THE LIFE 



his feelings, found him serious and tender, and 
ascertained that he was the son of a pious bro- 
ther in Christ, and advised him to seek for par- 
don without delay. He took the advice kindly, 
and, I believe, that night found mercy at the 
hand of the Lord. In a few years after this, I 
had the happiness of seeing this young man on 
the walls of Zion, and he is now laboring as the 
pastor of a Methodist church in one of the most 
flourishing cities in the state of Xew-York, a 
church containing more than five hundred com- 
municants. 

Another camp meeting which I attended this 
year was in North Canaan, Litchfield county, 
Conn. Here I had the pleasure of meeting 
with the following brethren in the ministry : 
Henry Stead, (who, as presiding elder of that 
district, had charge of the meeting.) George 
Coles, Timothy Benedict, Gershom Pierce, and 
several others. It was both pleasant and pro- 
fitable to me to extend my acquaintance among 
my fathers and brethren in the ministry. 

At this camp meeting brother Coles com- 
posed the following lines, descriptive of the cha- 
racter of the preachers who were present on 
that occasion : — 

Adorable Saviour, who, in thy right hand, 

Hold'st the stars, and they shine at thy gracious command; 



OF ELBERT OSBOBN. 



103 



We thank thee that Canaan is blessed with a cluster, 
Who shine uj)on us with a borrowed lustre. 
With pleasure we listen, and highly we prize, 
The prudent advices of Henry, (a) the wise: 
He warns us of danger, and points out the way 
In which we should travel by night and by day. 
Nor will we believe, though learned men tell us, 
That error is truth. Our Ger shorn. (6) the zealous, 
Will give us strong reasons, and arguments fair, 
And the truth as in Jesus will boldly declare. 
' ; Ye cannot be perfect," say some to this day, 
But John, (c) the beloved, has shown us the way: 
To Arnold, (d) the orator, much has been given ; 
He calls to repentance, and points us to heaven. 
To Asaph, (e) the singer, we look for our guide 
In music's sweet strains. While the soft-flowing tide 
Of Panneles (f) eloquence charmingly rolls, 
Taking captive our hearts, and delighting our souls. 

We're exhorted the kingdom of heaven to seek, 
And told of its blessings by Moses (g) the meek : 
We love the old way, which God hath appointed. 
And hail our Immanuel with Cyrus, (h) the anointed. 

Released from the furnace of sickness and pain, 
We are glad to see Timothy (?) here once again, 
With Datus [j] and Earl, (k) who were once in the field, 
And the sword of the Spirit did manfully wield. 
We are glad to hear John,(l) whose surname is Sweet, 
And all our dear brethren with kindness we'll greet ; 

(a) Henry Stead, P. E. (b) Gershom Pierce. (c) John 
Lovejoy. (d) Arnold Scholefield. (<•) The author's assumed 
name. (/) Parmele Chamberlin. (») Moses Amedon. (A) Cy- 
rus Silliman. (i) Timothy Benedict. (;') Datus Ensign. 
(&) Earl Bancroft. (?) John Sweet, a local preacher. 



104 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



With all our old friends that come from afar, 
To encamp in the field, and to join in the war. 

If Robert (m) and Elbert (n) will lead on the van, 
And Julius, (o) and Johnny, (p) and Coles, (q) to a man, 
Will stand in their lot, and proceed without fear, 
And Phineas (r) and Billy (s) will bring up the rear : 

If Stephen, (t) the martyr for Jesus, will pray, 

And Samuel, {u) the prophet, will preach night and day : 

If the Spirit of truth will but lead us along, 

" Hallelujah to Jesus n shall still be our song. 

Then let the world rage, and our enemies frown, 
In the strength of Jehovah we'll tread them all down ; 
Our forces we'll range in the name of the Lord, 
And victory and glory shall be our reward. 

(m) Robert Travis. (n) Elbert Osborn. (o) Julius Field, 
(p) John Nixon. (g) Coles Carpenter. (r) Phineas Cook. 
(*) Billy Hibbard. (f) Stephen L. Stillman. (a) Samuel D. 
Ferguson. 

At each of the camp meetings in Burlington, 
and at this meeting in Canaan, it fell to my lot 
to preach one of the sermons. Several of the 
sermons preached by my brethren at this meet- 
ing were powerfully impressive, particularly a 
discourse from my colleague, from the solemn oath 
of the Lord, recorded Ezek. xxxiii, 11. Here, 
for the first time, I heard a sermon from Rev. 
Geo. Coles. It was concerning worshiping God 
after the way w r hich some call heresy. Here, too, 
I formed a pleasing acquaintance with a young 
school teacher by the name of John B. Husted, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



105 



and received from him a pressing invitation to 
call on him, at his father's house, in Alford, in 
Massachusetts, if I should go to the camp meet- 
ing in Nassau, in Rensselaer county, N. Y., 
which was to be held in a few weeks. When 
the week of that camp meeting arrived, I rode, 
on Monday, forty miles on horseback, and stop- 
ped for the night at Mr. Husted's hospitable 
habitation. And often have I, since that time, 
enjoyed his hospitality with gratitude, and 
listened with delight to the accounts which he 
gave of the introduction of Methodism into Al- 
ford and the vicinity. He particularly named, 
among the pioneers, the Rev. Ebenezer Stevens, 
a good man, who was sometimes called the hem- 
lock preacher. "Whether it was because he re- 
sided in a cottage surrounded by lofty hemlock- 
trees, or because of some roughness and eccen- 
tricity in his manner of preaching, or from both 
causes combined, that he received this appella- 
tion, I cannot tell. He was doubtless a man of 
considerable ingenuity, deep piety, and exten- 
sive usefulness. When traveling a rough, 
mountainous circuit, which called him from his 
home several weeks at a time, he would return 
to his cottage among the hemlocks, where two 
plain chairs, and a long bench for the children 
to sit on, formed all the sitting accommodations 



106 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of the dwelling, and he would cheerfully con- 
verse with them and his friends on the things 
of God, and joyfully unite with them in humble 
prayer and praise. To murmuring and dis- 
content he appeared to be a stranger : and his 
sincere humility was as remarkable as his con- 
tentment. Having spent one evening with Mr. 
Husted and his wife, before he departed he 
kneeled down to pray, commencing thus : " Lord, 
we have been talking about many things which 
we might as well have let alone. We pray 
thee to forgive us." I was the more interested 
in Mr. H.'s account of this good man, because 
in Litchfield county, where I was laboring, and 
where he had formerly labored, the name of 
father Stevens was as "ointment poured forth." 

On Tuesday morning I left my friends at 
Alford, not knowing then that in the lapse of a 
few years the young schoolmaster would enter 
the ministry, and soon be appointed presiding 
elder, and be elected a delegate to the General 
Conference, as has been the case. Twenty miles, 
I think, was the distance which I rode from 
Alford, before I reached the camp ground, 
where religious exercises were just commenc- 
ing. While the people were singing the first 
hymn, the presiding elder whispered to me that 
a chair for the preacher to kneel on would be 



OF ELBERT OSBOPwX. 



107 



a convenience, as the book board was rather too 
high. Looking down from the stand, I saw a plain 
looking man, of farmer-like appearance, sitting 
in a chair near one of the posts which support- 
ed the stand, and I was on the point of asking 
him to give up his chair, but did not finally con- 
clude to do so. In an hour or two after the 
close of the first service, I met with this old 
gentleman in the preachers' tent, and to my 
astonishment was introduced to him as Bishop 
George. My astonishment was the greater, be- 
cause I had heard him preach eight years be- 
fore, and yet I did not dream that this was he. 
Had I dispossessed him of his chair, it would 
have mortified me much, but I presume he 
would have passed it over with the utmost kind- 
ness. In the course of the meeting he preach- 
ed a warm and powerful sermon, and, although 
the rain fell plentifully while he was preaching, 
it did not quench the holy flame burning in the 
venerable preacher's breast, or prevent it from 
kindling in the hearts of many of his hearers. 
The good bishop did not confine his labors to 
preaching, but in the prayer meeting pointed 
the mourner to Christ, and lifted u up holy hands " 
in prayer to God for them. It was said that in 
one tent where he labored, in the prayer meet- 
ing, there were, during one evening, between 



108 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



twenty and thirty that professed to find mercy, 
and, among the rest, was a little boy, who, 
when he had obtained the blessing, threw his 
arms around the bishop's neck, and exclaimed, 
" O, father, do help me to praise the Lord." 
Some, with whom I have since become acquaint- 
ed, have referred to that prayer meeting as the 
place of their espousal to Christ. 

At this camp meeting there were some pow- 
erful exhortations delivered, and the people did 
not commence retiring to their tents as soon as 
the exhortation commenced; a habit too fre- 
quent at some camp meetings. Here, for the 
first time, I heard the fervent entreaties and 
solemn warnings of a minister who is still a 
member of the New- York Conference, and 
whose words were truly " words of fire." Many 
felt that they were indeed accompanied by the 
demonstration and power of the Spirit. 

The love-feast on Friday, with which the 
meeting closed, was a most melting time. One 
short narrative I distinctly recollect, given by 
a minister who was a native of England, (Rev. 
Henry Stead,) where he had heard the holy 
William Bramwell preach in the open air. He 
had been laboring in America about twenty 
years. He told us that he had heard, in his 
own country, of the great opening for labor in 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



109 



America, the camp meetings which had just been 
providentially commenced, and the revivals 
which followed, and he felt a desire to come 
here. He stated his impressions to his father- 
in-law, who said in reply, " While you live, I 
have no fears but that my daughter will be 
kindly provided for wherever you and she may 
go. But if you should die and leave her in that 
far-distant country, among strangers, I know not 
what she might suffer." " Never fear, father," 
replied the young minister, " I am going where 
the God of the Christians lives, and he will take 
care of us." How cheering to any minister, 
going forth among strangers, uncertain as to 
the treatment which he shall receive, to remem- 
ber that he " is going where the God of the 
Christians lives !" The good man is now a 
worn-out soldier, but his pious wife, after having 
been his helper in the Lord's work in America 
for about twenty-two years, went home to rest, 
where one of her sons, Rev. William D. Stead, 
(a useful traveling preacher.) has lately gone 
to join her in worshiping the God of the Chris- 
tians in his holy temple above. My journey 
back from this camp meeting was peculiarly 
pleasant. The weather was serene, the travel- 
ing good, and my soul was happy in God. A 
part of the way I rode near the banks of the 



110 



PASSAGES DS THE LIFE 



Honsatonick. This would naturally lead me 
to think of hit natrve place, and bit father's 

abode, not very far from the mouth of that 
stream, but nearly one hundred miles from 
where I then was. I rejoiced in the fact that 
G-od had giTen me fathers and mothers, bro- 
thers and sisters, among strangers. 

Li: rle did I then irnagir. r that, in twenty years 
from thai time, multitudes upon tiiudes'of 
traTelers from Bridgeport from Boston 

would be carried through that peaceful, quiet 
valley, on their way to Albany, with great Te- 
locity, in carriages moving without horses, and 
urged forward by the combined force of water 
and fire. 

The Kev. Samuel I ; having been taken 
away by death just after receiving his appoint- 
ment to Dutchess circuit, his colleague, brother 
Cochran, was assisted for some months by Cy- 
rus Foss. a young local preacher, who had been 
licensed on the circuit. In January. 1825, the 
presiding elder thought it best for me to change 
with my dear brother Foss. This information 
was communicated to me two or three days be- 
fore I was to leave for Dutchess. After enjoy- 
ing a good quarterly meeting with our bre:hren 
in Goshen, and receiving an affectionate fare- 
well from our friends, and especially from my 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



Ill 



beloved colleague, Mr. Scholefield, I went on my 
way to preach Jesus among strangers. But my 
former friend, Mr. Cocliran, was ready to receive 
me kindly, and in the house of brother Van 
Benschoten, (now with God,) a steward and a 
local preacher, and a very kind man, I found 
a place to deposit such things as I did not wdsh 
constantly to carry with me. Before this, when 
but a boy, I had often heard the preachers speak 
of Peter Eighmey, and when I came in sight of the 
large Dutch stone house which the old gentleman 
and his pious companion occupied, I " thanked 
God and took courage." Learning that he 
and his wife could converse in the German 
language, (or high Dutch, as it is sometimes 
called,) my curiosity prompted me to ask them 
to let me hear a specimen, a request with which 
they readily complied. In Connecticut, where I 
had spent nearly all my days thus far, no one was 
found to converse in the Dutch or German lan- 
guage. Since then I have often heard, in some 
of the families where I have lodged, lively con- 
versation in these languages. But pure reli- 
gion is the same loving, joyful principle, among 
Dutch and English, Irish and Americans, and 
" Christ is all and in all." In the Dutch stone 
house of brother Eighmey I enjoyed some joyful 
hours with God's loving people. 



112 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Amidst the happy seasons granted to me 
while on this circuit, I had some very powerful 
temptations ; and, in looking back upon that 
part of my history, I cannot but adore the pro- 
tecting goodness of my heavenly Father. And 
I am sensible, too, that more watchfulness and 
prayer would have been far better for my spi- 
ritual welfare. 

Within the bounds of this circuit lived James 
P. Horton, whom I have before mentioned. 
For nearly a week together I enjoyed his com- 
pany and assistance, which, at that time, was 
most opportune ; for almost every day during 
that week I had two appointments, one in the 
afternoon, and another in the evening ; and 
my voice was so much affected by a severe 
sold, that I should have found it very difficult 
to go through the duties expected of me with- 
out some help. Though I could not prevail on 
brother H. to preach for me but once, yet he 
was uniformly willing to give an exhortation. 
Sometimes, when I had preached thirty minutes, 
he would exhort forty-five minutes. The breth- 
ren all seemed glad to see and hear him, not- 
withstanding his peculiarities. Most of them 
had long known him, and they loved him for 
his piety. Perhaps I shall be pardoned if I 
give one or two instances of his innocent mis- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



113 



takes, I will first remark, however, that his 
soul was so full of gratitude, that of the abun- 
dance of the heart the mouth spoke. Some- 
times, for want of a little more consideration, 
lie would introduce an ascription of praise, as 
" glory," or " hallelujah,'' in such a connection 
with other sentences as to produce a somewhat 
ludicrous effect. Once, in exhorting at one of 
my appointments in the highlands near Cold 
Spring, on the Hudson River, he referred to the 
sufferings of St. Paul, using this expression, 
that " St. Paul received forty-nine stripes save 
one, hallelujah !" At another time I heard him 
relate a dream in a class meeting, concerning 
having a contest with Satan in the form of a 
snake : — " But," said he, " I picked up a gad,* 
and commenced laying on the strokes ; but I 
found that before each stroke I had to look up : 
after striking once, I could not strike again till 
I had again looked up : and O what a whaling 
I did give him." Though there might be no- 
thing supernatural in that dream, and though 
it was related in that peculiar way, there was 
in it a striking emblematical representation of 
the course to be pursued by the Christian in 
his conflicts with his spiritual foes : — 

* Meaning, a slender branch or limb of a tree. 
8 



114 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



" For ever standing on his guard, 
And looking up to" God. 

Once I recollect he was so happy in his 
God when we retired to rest, that after we had 
lain down, he broke forth into singing one of 
his favorite hymns, thus reminding me of the 
language of the Psalmist, in the 5th verse of the 
149th Psalm. Perhaps I had better anticipate 
my narrative so far as to say that, in the year 
1840, when returning from a camp meeting to 
the city of New- York, I listened to the last ex- 
hortation which I ever heard from the lips of 
" Uncle Jimmy," as he was familiarly called. 
The spacious deck of the steamboat was crowd- 
ed with people, and much melting tenderness 
of feeling mingled with the holy joy that per- 
vaded the assembly. Just before he sat down, 
he was expressing, in a simple yet fluent man- 
ner, his hope of glory, and describing his ex- 
pectations of meeting prophets, apostles, and 
martyrs, in the bright abode. " There," said 
he, " I expect, in the regions of the heavenly 
glory, to meet dear old father Wesley. And 
what shall I tell him from you, brother Os- 
born?" said he, turning suddenly toward me. 
" Tell him that I am determined to meet him 
in heaven, and to get as many as I can to go 
there with me," was my answer. " I will," was 



OF ELBERT 03BOKN. 



115 



the reply of the holy brother, and immediately 
he sat down. May God grant that this promise 
made to the sainted Wesley, through one who has 
since gone to join " the saints in light/' together 
with all the solemn promises made to God by 
his unworthy servant, the writer, may be reli- 
giously kept. 

During the four months which I spent with 
brother Cochran, in the Dutchess circuit, we had 
reason to believe that a number were converted, 
and I think about twenty-five were added to 
the societies. 

It was not far from this time that I formed 
an acquaintance with Alpheus Jew r ett and his 
wife, of Sharon, in Connecticut, a town adjoin- 
ing Dutchess county. They were among the 
earliest Methodists in the state, and could tell 
of some of the first visits made to that part of 
the country by Freeborn Garrettson, Cornelius 
Cook, Benjamin Abbott, and others. The wife 
of my beloved colleague was a daughter of theirs. 
One of their sons has been more than thirty-eight 
years an itinerant minister, and for a number 
of years a presiding elder, while another son, 
who bears the name of the sainted Garrettson, 
(given him by his parents no doubt from grate- 
ful affection to that good man,) has recently 
been appointed one of the judges of the highest 



116 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

court of the state of New -York. 3Iay their 
children and children's children follow them 

home to paradise. 

In May, 1825, I left my circuit for confer- 
ence, which was to be held this year in the city 
of Troy, this being some years before the Troy 
Conference was set off from the New-York Con- 
ference. TThen I arrived at Amenia, I fell in 
company with Rev. R. Seney and Rev. C. Sil- 
liman, who were going to conference together, 
and as I was a stranger to the road, their com- 
pany was the more agreeable. On our way 
we dined with Charles Northrop, and found 
hospitable entertainment at night with a good 
brother in the city of Hudson. As I rode on 
horseback and my brethren in a carriage. I had 
less opportunity for conversation and more 
reflection. I had endeavored to prepare for 
the examination, which was to precede admis- 
sion into full connection, but how I should pass 
I could not foretell : and if I passed that or- 
deal, it was uncertain what disposition the con- 
ference would make of my case : and if admit- 
ted, I could not tell how far I might be sent, 
nor what kincl of a circuit I should have : but 
one thing cheered my heart — the consideration 
that the great God rules and overrules for 
good. My little stock of clothing I carried with 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



117 



me, so as to be ready, when conference closed, 
to go to my appointment, if I should receive 
one, whether it were in the north or the south, 
at the east or the west. From Hudson we went 
on Saturday to the city of Albany, where my 
brethren remained till Monday. The stationed 
preacher in the city, Rev. T. Spicer, finding it 
necessary for me to go on, as I had to be in 
Troy on Monday morning to meet the commit- 
tee, kindly gave me directions, and I went on 
and crossed the river in the ferry-boat just after 
the setting of the sun, and, for the first time, 
found myself in the pleasant city of Troy. Here 
I was appointed to board with a kind brother 
by the name of Wallace. 

On Monday morning the committee, namely, 
N. Bangs, P. P. Sandford, D. Ostrander, E. 
Washburn, and S. Luckey, met to examine the 
candidates in regard to their knowledge of the- 
ology, &c. About eight hours were occupied 
during the morning, afternoon, and evening, in 
this examination, and I felt thankful for that 
measure of composure of spirit which I was en- 
abled to maintain. 

On Tuesday morning at nine o'clock the New- 
York Conference began its session. To me it 
was an interesting sight to behold so many of 
my fathers in the ministry, some of whom had 



118 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



been toiling on the borders of Canada, and oth- 
ers on the shores of Long Island, assembled to- 
gether to deliberate on the affairs of the church. 
Many of these ministers I had heard preach in 
the days of my early youth ; with several others 
I had formed an acquaintance during the last 
two years ; and there were many more whose 
names I had often seen in the Minutes, but 
whose faces I had never seen before. Bishops 
George and Hedding were present : the latter 
I had never seen before : he had then been but 
about one year in the episcopacy. 

I believe it was on the second day of the con- 
ference that my case was brought forward, and 
I retired from the conference-room with a trem- 
bling heart, while they deliberated on the mat- 
ter. My suspense was removed in a short time 
by the information that I was admitted into full 
connection, and elected to deacon's orders. Be- 
fore this, however, all the candidates had passed 
a very serious examination before the confer- 
ence, and had made solemn promises in answer 
to the questions on page 38 of the Discipline, 
(edition of 1844,) section 9, chapter 1. These 
questions were accompanied with some impres- 
sive remarks by one of the bishops. After be- 
ing admitted into full connection I was at lib- 
erty to vote in the conference. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



119 



On sabbath the deacons and elders were to 
be ordained — the former in Lansingburgh, by 
Bishop George, and the latter in Troy, by 
Bishop Hedding. On sabbath morning brother 
J. Z. Nichols and myself walked three miles 
from Troy, along the pleasant banks of the Hud- 
son, to the little, low Methodist chapel, then 
standing in the village of Lansingburgh, where 
we, in company with several others, were to be 
solemnly set apart to the work of the ministry, 
by the imposition of hands, It was a fine morn- 
ing, and the house was crowded. The bishop 
preached most impressively from 2 Cor. v, 14, 
15 ; and who could hear that sermon and not 
be moved — deeply moved ? Among those or- 
dained on that occasion were Parmele Cham- 
berlin, Bezaleel Howe, John Kennaday, Wes- 
ley P. Lake, Richard Seaman, Robert Travis, 
William Todd, and William M. Willett. So 
affecting were the remarks made by our super- 
intendent as he passed along within the com- 
munion rails, laying his hands upon the head 
of one after another, that almost every one of 
us was melted into tears, and several seemed 
overwhelmed with emotion. Especially did he 
urge us not to suffer even the tears of affec- 
tionate relatives to hinder us in the work of the 
Lord. 



120 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



When the numbers in society were reported 
in conference, it was found there was a net 
gain of between six and seven hundred. Bishop 
George arose and remarked, that the tide of 
immigration, constantly flowing to the west, ac- 
counted in part for the smallness of this increase. 
But he urged us to consider whether a greater 
degree of zeal and faithfulness in the ministers 
of that conference (numbering more than one 
hundred) might not have been attended with 
much larger accessions of genuine converts. The 
few words which he uttered on that occasion 
sunk down into my heart. 

At the close of the conference I was appoint- 
ed to the Burlington circuit, in Connecticut, on 
which I labored two years. Rev. Samuel D. 
Ferguson was the preacher in charge the first 
year, and Rev. Joseph M'Creary the second. 
In these two years we witnessed some spiritual 
prosperity. In one part of Cole brook there was 
a considerable revival ; and, among others who 
were brought in, one (who attributed his awaken- 
ing, through God's blessing, to my instrument- 
ality) has since that time, as I have been in- 
formed, commenced preaching the gospel in one 
of the western states. There were conversions 
also in Winsted, Newfield, and perhaps some 
other places, for we preached also in Burling- 



OF ELBERT OSBOEN. 



121 



ton, Farmington, Barkhampsted, Wolcottville, 
Harwinton, New-Hartford, Torringford, and the 
west part of Hartland. In some places we 
witnessed contentions among brethren in the 
society, which were very unpleasant to us, and 
probably hindered, in some degree, the spread 
of pure religion : nevertheless, there were very 
many faithful souls in this circuit, several of 
whom have since then gone to their rest in 
heaven. 

While laboring in this circuit, I thought it 
most for the glory of God to change my condi- 
tion in life, and was married September 22, 
1825, to Miss Sarah Wright, of Cornwall, whom 
I had known for more than two years. I had 
considered it a prudent and proper course to 
abstain from taking any steps whatever toward 
matrimony, until I had consulted with some of 
the most prudent of my brethren, and until I 
believed the time was nearly come for me to 
enter into that " holy estate ;" for I had known 
some cases where young ministers had plunged 
themselves into difficulty, and others into grief, 
simply for want of consideration ; not to speak 
of some other cases still more dishonorable to 
the cause of Christ. I trust that our union was 
of God, and has been sanctified to our mutual 
benefit. May we be faithful to our blessed Lord, 



122 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



" And kindly help each other on, 
Till both receive the starry crown." 

In August, 1826, I attended a camp meeting 
at Middlebury, in Connecticut, where a young 
man was awakened, who came a few weeks af- 
terward to another camp meeting in Barkhamp- 
sted, where I had the pleasure of leading him 
to the altar of prayer, and rejoicing over him 
as one of the lambs of the Redeemer. He is 
now (March, 1846) presiding elder of the Pa- 
terson district, in New-Jersey. 

At this camp meeting our beloved brother 
Scholefield presided. And here I felt perhaps 
more of the melting love of Christ in my heart 
while preaching, than I ever felt at any other 
time, while engaged in that exercise. Here I 
formed my first acquaintance with Rev. Elisha 
Andrews, then a young preacher full of zeal in 
his Master's cause. He came there in company 
with his colleague, J. B. Husted, about sixty 
miles on horseback. About eighteen years 
after that, while on his way to another camp 
meeting, he was drowned in the Hudson River, 
and his spirit was suddenly called home. 

In May, 1826, I made a short visit to my 
dear parents, where I met my brother and sis- 
ters, and then went to the city of New- York to 
attend conference. Bishop George and Bishop 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



123 



M'Kendree were present, the latter so feeble 
as to be unable to perform much of the labor 
devolving on the superintendents ; yet he was 
continued in this world of toil five or six years 
longer than his healthy and robust colleague, 
Enoch George. A case of intemperance came 
up at this conference, which led the bishop to 
make some very forcible remarks, which I 
shall never forget. He cautioned us against 
the least approach toward such a dreadful 
whirlpool. 

At this conference I formed an acquaintance 
with two men, for which I hope to bless God 
in eternity. Both of them were located preach- 
ers, and intimate friends of each other. Their 
names were Joel Ketchum and Elijah Chiches- 
ter. The latter yet lives in Lansingburgh, 
where he resided in 1826; the former, I trust, 
now lives in the New Jerusalem. It appears 
that he commenced traveling in 1793, and lo- 
cated in 1801 ; having, in that time, labored on 
Marblehead circuit, in Massachusetts ; on Mid- 
dletown and Pomfret circuits, in Connecticut ; 
in the city of Albany, and on Cambridge and 
Saratoga circuits, in the state of New- York. 
Whether he erred or not in locating, it is not 
for me to say ; but of one thing I am certain, 
that / met with no encouragement to locate 



124 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



while I was sojouring at his house during the 
conference. At that time he was so weak in 
body that he could not pray vocally, nor con- 
verse much, except in a whisper : yet this was 
very profitable to me ; and while brother Chi- 
chester was leading our family devotions, God 
often met us in great mercy, and refreshed our 
souls abundantly. I will here say that when 
I last saw brother Ketchum, (in 1829,) his 
health was so far restored, that I had the plea- 
sure of walking with him to his appointment, 
of hearing him preach an excellent sermon in 
Duane-street church, and of listening to his re- 
marks in conversation on the subject of continu- 
ance in secret prayer. Of this he himself proved 
the benefit, as I have since learned from his 
pious, aged widow. She told me that, for some 
time before his departure, he was in the habit 
of frequently rising very early, that he might 
redeem a longer season for private devotion, 
and that she believed he was often abundantly 
blessed in thus following the example of Him 
who, when on earth, " rose up a great while 
before day" to pray. Shortly after my last in- 
terview with him, he sailed for Charleston on 
business, and neither he nor the vessel has 
since been heard of; but, 



OF ELBERx OSBOKX. 



125 



" God his Redeemer lives, 
And ever from the skies 
Looks down, and watches all his dust, 
Till he shall bid it rise." 

But to return to the Burlington circuit. 
The second winter which I spent there was 
abundant in snow ; and the country being hilly, 
and in some places mountainous, the traveling 
was unpleasant. From information received 
from good authority, I suppose some of the 
snow-banks near my house, over which I fre- 
quently passed with my horse and sleigh, were 
fourteen or fifteen feet deep. Sometimes, when 
the snow had recently fallen, I did not venture 
to go quite home with my sleigh when I return- 
ed from my appointments, (fearing that I might 
stick fast in a snow-bank,) but left it at the 
house of a kind friend, who lived a little south 
of me, on much lower ground, and more shel- 
tered from the wintry winds. But I lived to 
see that winter pass away, and the spring re- 
turn in her beauty to bless the earth. 

Many names connected with the Burlington 
circuit I should delight to record, but I will 
confine myself to four : — Daniel Coe,* a local 

* Mr. C. has been suddenly called from his work to 
glory, since the above was written. 



126 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



elder, who was a preacher long before I was in 
the ministry, (indeed, he was a member of the 
body which gave me my first license ;) Tho- 
mas Sparks, a native of England, then a local, 
now a traveling, preacher ; David Coe,* a leader 
and steward of the church, whose solemn, joy- 
ful songs of praise (though his body slumbers 
in the grave) still seem as it were to sound in 
my ears ; and Judah Lewis, an exhorter, who. I 
trust, is still serving God either in the far west 
on earth, or in the upper and better country 
which he so diligently sought. 

On my way with my wife to a quarterly 
meeting, in December, 1826, I called at the 
post-office, and found a letter, which I perceiv- 
ed, from the date of the post-mark, had been 
delayed by some accident or misdirection. I 
opened it, and read the account of my dear fa- 
ther's death. Tears streamed from my eyes, 
to the relief of my aching and throbbing heart, 
while my companion wept with me, as we went 
on our way. I had been to visit him in the 
former part of his illness, supposed him to 
be gaining when I left him, and almost con- 
cluded that he must be nearly well, as no letter 
came for some time, when the fatal tidings ar- 

* His wife and my wife were sisters. 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



127 



rived. But we did not mourn as those who have 
no hope, but thanked God for the reason we had 
to believe that he died in the Lord. The last 
letter which I received from him contained clear 
indications that he had seen his mistake in be- 
ing so unwilling that his son should become an 
itinerant minister. 



128 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



CHAPTER IV. 

FROM THE AUTHOR'S ORDINATION AS AN EL- 
DER UNTIL THE CLOSE OF HIS LABORS ON 
CHATHAM CIRCUIT, IN 1831. 

At the conference held in Troy, in May, 
1827, I was ordained elder by the hands of the 
same good man who had ordained me a deacon, 
two years before. May I never forget that the 
vows of God are upon me ! "I have opened 
my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." 
I was appointed to the charge of the Granville 
circuit, embracing the following places in Massa- 
chusetts, namely : Feeding-hills, Southwick, Tat- 
ham, Westfield, Granville, East Granville, Otis, 
Blandford, Becket, Eussel, Chester, and Worth- 
ington. Besides these appointments, my col- 
leagues and I preached in Suffield, Windsor, Win- 
tonbury, (now Bloomfield,) Rainbow, Turkey- 
hills, Simsbury, Granby, East Granby, Hartland, 
and Barkhampstead, in Connecticut. I removed 
my family about forty miles by land, to Feed- 
ing-hills, a parish in the town of West Spring- 
field. My colleagues were Rev. C. F. Pelton, 
and a supernumerary preacher, Rev. C. Culver. 
I felt greatly my need of wisdom, as this was 
the first year in which I had been appointed to 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



129 



the charge of a circuit I feared that I might 
neglect some act of discipline which was neces- 
sary, or perform it in such a manner as would 
do more harm than good. But I sought the 
counsel of my colleagues, and of my presiding 
elder, brother Scholefield, who was a father to 
us all. We were obliged to expel a few per- 
sons who would not reform. 

During the winter season we had an abun- 
dance of snow in the west and north part of 
the circuit, where the. hills were high, and the 
winds bleak and cold. In one or two cases I 
was several hours in getting six or seven miles 
to an appointment. But God preserved man 
and beast, and watched over my family in mercy 
during my absence. 

While on this circuit I visited the Connecti- 
cut state prison in Granby, then known by the 
name of Newgate. This was a short time be- 
fore the new state prison in Wethersfield was 
completed. Not long after I wrote an article, 
which was published in a religious periodical, 
concerning this visit, a part of which I will here 
subjoin : — 

" It was a fine morning in June ; fragrant 
flowers bloomed in their native beauty, and the 
cheerful birds sung among the branches, as we 
traveled along. At length we beheld the pri- 
9 



130 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



son among the trees at a little distance before 
us. Ah ! thought I, how often has the sight of 
those buildings struck the heart of a poor cri- 
minal with anguish ! When we approached and 
rang the bell, the gate was opened, and we were 
conducted by one of the officers of the guard to 
the different apartments of the prison. Here 
we saw our fellow-men, who were doomed (some 
of them for years and others for life) to hard 
labor and confinement. The guards on the 
walls, armed with muskets ; the chains worn by 
some of the prisoners ; and the high walls that 
encompassed the prison, conspired to render the 
idea of imprisonment in such a place dreadful 
to the human mind. In vain are flowers and 
fruits scattered in profusion over the country 
around the prison ; the prisoners see them not. 
Amid the noise of hammers, axes, saws, &c, 
they may possibly, now and then, hear the notes 
of the feathered songsters of the air, but this 
can only serve to tantalize them with the idea 
of surrounding enjoyments from which they are 
cut off. The friends of the prisoner — where 
are they ? Where are the parents who watched 
over his infantile years ; the brothers and sisters 
who were the companions of his childhood ; the 
wife, the children whom he once embraced — 
where are they ? Ah ! how painful the thought ! 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



131 



" As we went from one apartment to another, 
and beheld these wretched criminals, they 
would raise their eyes toward the door, as 
if to see whether a relative had come to visit 
them : but I was a stranger to all, and they went 
on with their labor. I could not refrain from 
praying that my little son (who was in my arms) 
might never be brought to such an unhappy 
situation. 

" Before we left the prison we were conducted 
into the caverns beneath.* Each of us carried 
a lighted candle as we descended into this sub- 
terranean region. And here we were shown 
the damp room where the prisoners formerly 
slept. Happily this practice was discontinued 
after a season. We proceeded from one part 
of the cavern to another, till our guide led us 
into what he called the sounding -room, where 
the echoes of the voice produced a loud and 
singular sound; and here was a chain firmly 
fastened to the rock, where very obstinate cri- 
minals are sometimes confined till they submit 
to the regulations of the establishment. 

" This place has been compared by some to the 
abode of the wicked in another world, and per- 
haps it is a very suitable emblem. But though 

* These were opened for mining purposes, I believe, 
long before a prison was established there. 



132 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

there may be a strong resemblance, yet the one 
seems infinitely more intolerable than the other. 
Here the prisoner may have food and water ; 
but there the wicked wretch, confined in the 
prison of despair, may look in vain for a drop 
of water to cool his tongue. Here the criminal 
may sometimes be solaced by a visit from his 
friends ; but there the thought of meeting them 
leads him to exclaim, 'Let them not come to 
this place of torment.' Here the criminal may 
hope for liberation at the end of his term ; yea, 
perhaps sooner, through the compassion of those 
in power ; or even if his confinement is to con- 
tinue through life, he looks forward to the day 
when his mortal frame shall rest in the quiet 
grave ; but there the eye of the unhappy crea- 
ture looks through the vista of ages to come, 
and sees no end — -no end — no end to his con- 
finement and punishment. Here the prisoner 
employs part of his time in projecting possible 
methods of escape ; but there he ruminates in 
gloomy horror on the impossibility of any escape. 
Here the obstinate criminal, confined in the dark 
cavern, hears his groans ' return in sad echoes,' 
while none is near to pity him and sympathize 
with him ; but there the condemned soul is not 
only unpitied, but probably tormented by the 
devil and his angels. We dread the thought of 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 133 

being confined in an earthly prison like this ; 
how much more should we dread the idea of 
being immured in that dungeon from which there 
is no return ! How awful would be our feelings 
did we know that one poor man was pining 
in imprisonment in consequence of crimes com- 
mitted through our solicitation, or by our en- 
couragement ; and how dreadful must be our 
condemnation should we encourage souls in the 
way to endless perdition ! Here, perhaps, is a 
prisoner who may console himself with the con- 
sciousness of innocence of the crime for which 
he has been condemned ; but there the remem- 
brance of having sinned against an infinite God, 
and slighted infinite mercy, will produce a con- 
viction in the sinner's breast that he deserves 
eternal punishment, and 6 every mouth will be 
stopped/ 4 Flee from the wrath to come/ for 
mercy yet waits to be gracious to penitent re- 
bels." 

I have before spoken of the satisfaction which 
I felt in perusing the first religious paper I ever 
saw ; but I have neglected to mention that, while 
laboring on Burlington circuit, I obtained ac- 
cess to Zion's Herald, and before I left that cir- 
cuit had the pleasure of acting as an agent for 
the Christian Advocate, which was first issued 
in 1826 : and to this day I take a deep interest 



134 



PASSAGES tn THE LIFE 



in the weekly visits of these bearers of good 
tidings. The first scrap of my own writing 
which appeared in print was a little allegorical 
article entitled u Trial for Witchcraft " publish- 
ed first in Zion's Herald, and copied into some 
other religious papers. The next was K A Fa- 
ther's Letter to an Infant Son," which was co- 
pied by the Advocate, and one or two other 
periodicals. Both of these trifles, as well as 
several others written within a few years after, 
were sent to the editors without the writer's 
real name. Believing religious papers to be 
useful, and relying upon the judgment and 
fidelity of editors to reject, abridge, or insert, 
as the general good might require, I have 
thought it my duty to furnish short articles oc- 
casionally, and place them at their disposal ; 
sometimes using one fictitious signature, at other 
times another. 

In Westfield we preached frequently at the 
house of brother Henry Douglass, a pious me- 
chanic. Two young men, in his employment 
then, are now itinerant Methodist ministers, 
Davis Stocking and Allien S. Cooper. I be- 
lieve the latter was licensed to exhort during 
the second year in which I was on the Granville 
circuit ; and he has been for some years a 
preacher in the Troy Conference. Brother 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



135 



Stocking united with our church, on probation, 
when I preached at Westfield, for the first time, 
and I had the pleasure of signing his license to 
exhort before I left the circuit. For the last 
two years he has been stationed in Newburgh, 
in the New- York Conference. May they both 
long live to build up Zion ! 

When I first visited Wintonbury, I formed 
an acquaintance with a brother, (a young mar- 
ried man,) who, I soon learned, had exercises on 
the duty of entering the ministry. Finding that 
the brethren had confidence in him, I arranged 
matters so as to hear him preach, and cheer- 
fully united with the ensuing quarterly confer- 
ence in recommending him to the district con- 
ference for license. Such was the satisfaction 
given by his labors during eighteen months, that 
the last quarterly conference held before I left 
the circuit recommended him for admission, on 
trial, as a traveling preacher, and in May or 
June, 1829, he found his way to his appointed 
circuit, in the northern part of the state of Ver- 
mont. His name was Edwin E. Griswold, 
since well known by our brethren in New- York, 
New-Haven, Brooklyn, Newburgh, Middletown, 
Hempstead, and many other places, as an ac- 
ceptable ambassador of Christ. 

Saybrook is famous in the early ecclesiastical 



136 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



history of Connecticut, and when I learned that 
there was to be a camp meeting there, I had a 
little curiosity to go to the place, the name of 
which was associated with the celebrated " Plat- 
form/' I trust, however, that a stronger and far 
higher motive than curiosity was the chief cause 
of my going. Truly it was good to be there. 
One evening, after the preachers had mostly re- 
tired to rest, a messenger came to the preach- 
ers' tent, inviting brother Heman Bangs (who 
had recently labored in the city of Middletown) 
to go to one of the Middletown tents. By his 
invitation, I arose from my resting place and went 
with him. We found father Washburn, who 
was their present pastor, rejoicing with some 
who had just entered into the liberty of the 
children of God. It was a season long to be 
remembered. 

While I was preaching on gospel freedom at 
that camp meeting, I took occasion to speak 
also of the terrible slavery of sin ; and, during 
my remarks, a young woman, to whom I was a 
stranger, who was standing on the borders of 
the large congregation, suddenly shrieked aloud, 
and fell helpless to the earth. I afterward 
learned, from a preacher who labored in the 
section of country where she resided, that, be- 
fore the meeting closed, (I know not how soon 



OF ELBERT OSBOKX. 



137 



after the above circumstance,) she ventured by 
faith upon the merits of Christ; and I hope, 
it still alive, she is living for God and for 
heaven. 

When a boy, in the time of the war of 1812 
-13-14, I was much interested in reading and 
hearing of the battles, both on the land and on 
the sea, between the American and British 
forces. I had heard the thunder of the enemy's 
cannon, as his ships floated over Long Island 
Sound. The name of the brave Decatur was 
familiar to my youthful ear, and the victory 
which he gained over the British frigate Ma- 
cedonian (facetiously called sometimes Alexan- 
der the Great) had made a deep impression on 
my mind. Little did I think, in 1827, while 
floating down the Connecticut River, in the 
steamboat, to the Saybrook camp meeting, that 
I should there meet with one who fought on 
board of the Macedonian in 1812, and was taken 
prisoner with her, now fighting under the ban- 
ner of King Jesus, a happy member of the Me- 
thodist Church : yet this proved to be the case ; 
and if any desire to know the interesting par- 
ticulars of that man's eventful life, they may find 
them detailed in a very pleasing narrative en- 
titled " Thirty Years from Home ; or, A Voice 
from the Main Deck, beinsr the Experience of 



138 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Samuel Leech." It is written by himself. The 
pious reader will be pleased to learn that I have 
lately heard directly from Mr. L. by a relative 
of mine ; that he is still living in Wilbraham, 
Mass., and faithfully serving that God who 
" covered his head in the day of battle." But 
every humane person, who reads his descrip- 
tion of the horrors of the fight, as described in 
his book, from page 126 to page 140, must 
unite in the prayer, that God would hasten the 
day when nations will learn war no more. 

I find, among my papers, a letter written just 
after the close of the first year of my labors on 
Granville circuit, from which I extract the fol- 
lowing : — 

" God has been merciful to this circuit during 
the past conference year. Though there has 
been, and still is, too much indifference in some 
places, yet there have been seasons of refresh- 
ing from the Lord. Brother Culver has been 
enabled to form a new society in Worthington 
and the borders of Chester, which numbered 
about thirty-three members at the time of con- 
ference, who are now preparing to build a house 
of worship. This society has recently been set 
off to another circuit. Upward of eighty have 
joined our church on probation in the circuit 
during the last conference year." 



OF ELBEKT OSBORN. 



139 



At the conference in New- York, in 1828, the 
presiding elder of our district, brother Schole- 
field, was not with us. He was taken sick in 
May, while attending the General Conference 
at Pittsburgh, far from his family and home, 
and sickness detained him there after the Ge- 
neral Conference closed: but a kind brother 
delegate, Rev. Tobias Spicer, remained with 
him till he ventured to leave Pittsburgh, and 
they returned home together. May God grant 
that these friends may meet in that city where 
sickness cannot come, and where friends never 
part. 

How affectionately did Bishop George refer to 
the absence and illness of brother Scholefield, at 
that conference, and how little did we then think, 
while listening to the bishop's remarks, that we 
should "see his face no more" on earth ! In a 
few short months his spirit took its upward 
flight to the land of glorious rest. 

About this time I was requested, by some of 
my brethren, to consult some eminent surgeons 
on the possibility of uniting my two palates, by 
a surgical operation, so as to form but one, or 
to have some artificial appendage attached to 
the roof of the mouth, that would remedy my 
defect in speaking. But though I have con- 
versed with some of the most eminent surgeons 



140 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



in our land, the facts which have come to my 
knowledge have led me to believe (whatever 
surgeons might hope) that I must wait till the 
resurrection morning before I have perfect or- 
gans of speech. " Even so, Father, for so it 
seemed good in thy sight." 

At Springfield, about six miles from my re- 
sidence, Rev. Timothy Merritt labored during 
the two years which I spent on the Granville 
circuit. He was a good old soldier of the Lord 
Jesus Christ, who consecrated his mind, his 
tongue, and his pen, to the cause of the Redeemer 
and the good of souls. His field of labor was 
in one conference and mine in another, being di- 
vided by the Connecticut River, but our hearts 
were united. We have rejoiced together at his 
house, and at mine ; while riding together in 
the carriage, and when worshiping in the tented 
grove. With this good man I visited Dr. Fisk, 
at Wilbraham, when he was the principal of the 
academy in that place. My wife and myself 
can never forget one happy, solemn season, (a 
select watch-night,) which we enjoyed with T. 
Merritt, when the blessing of perfect love was 
the subject of special conversation and earnest 
prayer. I bless God that I was permitted to 
form some acquaintance with that good and 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



141 



great man, Dr. Fisk, and had the privilege of 
entertaining him under my roof. He visited 
most of the towns in our county, and preached 
temperance sermons, and formed temperance 
societies. Many of the people were convinced 
by his reasoning, captivated by his eloquence, 
and charmed with his piety. When the first 
opportunity presented, I cheerfully united with 
the temperance society on the old pledge, and 
seven years afterward, when invited to sign the 
pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicating 
liquor as a beverage, I readily consented, and 
have never yet been sorry. Hoping that most 
of my readers have read, or will read, the in- 
teresting description of Dr. Fisk given by Dr. 
Bangs, in the fourth volume of his History, pages 
313-329, I will say but little more concerning 
him. In his journeyings he called on a family, 
which happened, at that moment, to be unusu- 
ally busy in some domestic concerns. It was 
near noon, and he was asked to stop and take 
such a dinner as they could prepare under the 
circumstances. He led his horse to the stable, 
and made everything pleasant to the family : 
when one of his friend's children was un- 
easy, he quieted it on his knee, and left a strong 
conviction upon the minds of the family that 



142 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



he was an humble follower of the meek and 
lowly Jesus, and an eminent servant of the Most 
High God. 

In the jail at Springfield, I made a religious 
visit to a man who had murdered his wife in 
Westfield, and soon afterward I was present at 
his trial and conviction. It was the first time 
I had ever seen a man tried for his life, and it 
brought to my mind solemn thoughts of that 
day when u the dead, small and great, will stand 
before God." 

In Feeding-hills I first saw a Christian die — 
Mrs. Waters — who had been serving God faith- 
fully from her youth for about twenty years. 
During an illness of several days she had mani- 
fested confidence in God. When death com- 
menced his work, they sent for my wife and 
myself. We arose, made hasty preparations, 
and walked together to the chamber of the dy- 
ing, while the beams of the morning star in the 
east served to remind us that, with the Chris- 
tian, the night of death would be followed by 
the daylight of glory. We found her speech- 
less, with her companion, children, and other 
friends, around her, while one was taking care 
of her infant but a few months old. By signs she 
made us understand that she wished us to sing; 
and while we were singing the hymn beginning 



OF ELBERT OSBOEX. 



143 



" On Jordan's stormy banks I stand," 
she fixed her eves, with an earnest gaze, as if 
looking at some object above her. clapped her 
hands repeatedly, and expired. TThile return- 
ing home, just as the sun was rising, my prayer 
was. Let me die the death of the righteous." 

If a wish to study brevity should lead me to 
omit recording, in my narrative,, any more in- 
stances of Christian triumph in death, let no 
one suppose that this is the only case in which 
I have seen that 

"Jesus can make a dying bed 
Feel soft as downy pillows are. : " 

About this time I purchased Foster's Es- 
says." and found them a rich treasure. I would 
recommend, especially, the e^say on Decision 
of Character " to every young Christian, and 
particularly to every young minister. I have 
omitted to mention that my colleagues on this 
circuit, during the second year, were Rev. Lu- 
ther Mead and Rev. C. Culver. In September, 
1828. I rode about sixty miles on horseback to 
a camp meeting in the west part of Xew-Leba- 
non. in Columbia county. New- York. On the 
way. when nearly there, I was taken very ill, 
and for a short time had some apprehensions that 
I should die, for my disease was the same as 
that which carried my father, my grandmother, 



144 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



and my aunt, out of time into eternity : but my 
mind was calmly stayed upon God. My disease 
abating, I moved slowly on to the meeting, and 
before it closed was able to preach once to the 
people, who bore with my weakness, and I be- 
lieve ardently prayed for me, for it was a sea- 
son of very peculiar blessedness to my soul. 

I closed my labors on the Granville circuit 
in May, 1829. Since that time it has been di- 
vided and subdivided ; part of it has been set off 
to the New-England Conference, where it natu- 
rally belonged. In Westfield, where we preached 
once in two weeks on a week evening, in a pri- 
vate house, they have since built a Methodist 
church ; and when their congregation needed a 
larger and better one, it was erected ; and, in 
1844, the New-England Conference held its 
session there,* and found accommodations among 
that people. Surely the " little one" sometimes 
becomes " a thousand," according to prophecy. 

There was then no railroad from Boston to 
Albany ; hence, when I received my appoint- 
ment at the conference in Troy, in 1829, to the 
Chatham circuit, in the state of New- York, I 

* The good bishop who presided at that conference 
was, I believe, an unconverted schoolmaster in or near 
the north-western corner of Connecticut, in the year 
1 827. " What hath God wrought V y 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



145 



had to avail myself of the slow and wearisome 
motion of horses and wagons to convey my fa- 
mily and goods over the mountains that divide 
the valley of the Connecticut from the valley 
of the Hudson. On the summit of one of these 
mountains I met Bishop Hedding, going to at- 
tend one of the eastern conferences. He was 
traveling in a sulkey, and when I told him that 
I was on my way to do that part of the Lord's 
work which he had * advised," and in that place 
which he "judged most for the glory of God," 
he gave me kind encouragement to proceed. 

Two days' journey brought me to New-Le- 
banon, to a house in the west part of the town, 
(near the residence of a good steward by the 
name of Jesse Hand,*) which the stewards had 
hired for the preacher who might come to their 
circuit. It was about six miles from the cele- 
brated Shaker village, and about the same dis- 
tance from the once famous " Springs." An 
old, pious, and respectable Methodist in New- 
Lebanon, had once been a Shaker in his earlier 
days, and well remembered the celebrated Mo- 
ther Ann. The account which he gave me had 

* This good man died in the triumph of faith in the 
town of Hudson, Walworth, Wisconsin Territory. Jan- 
uary 15, 1846. His last words were about "abetter 
country, even a heavenly." 

10 



146 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



no tendency to increase my confidence either in 
the piety of their leaders or the utility of the 
institution. My colleague, the first year, was 
Rev. Jacob Hall, who, being an older minister 
than myself, had charge of the circuit. The 
second year I was associated with a young min- 
ister, brother H. Burton, a probationer in the tra- 
veling connection. During the second year one 
of the appointments on the circuit (Nassau vil- 
lage) was supplied as a station by brother C. 
F. Pelton, though it remained connected in one 
quarterly conference. I can speak of my two 
years on the circuit more conveniently in the 
collective form of one term, because I cannot al- 
ways recollect in which year some events hap- 
pened. 

At a quarterly meeting at China Hill, we 
were favored with the presence of brother Mer- 
win, then on his way from Troy, where he 
resided, to a camp meeting at Pittsfield. In 
his discourse he described the prospect which 
the Christian enjoys of the heavenly land, un- 
der the emblem of the mariner, as he approaches 
the shores of a delightful country, raising 
his glass and surveying the beauties of the 
scene. Putting up one hand before the other, 
in the attitude of a man holding a spyglass to 
one eye and closing the other, he moved his 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



147 



head slowly around, as if changing the direction 
of the glass from object to object, speaking at 
the same time, in the most feeling manner, of 
thrones and sceptres, crowns and palms of vic- 
tory, " sweet fields of living green, and rivers of 
pure delight." God blessed his people through 
the instrumentality of his servant, and one of 
them appeared to be full of glorious hope. It 
was brother Hand, whose happy death I have 
just mentioned. Are not these brethren now 
exploring together those heavenly regions ? 
Some who read this may remember with what 
child-like simplicity brother Merwin used to 
say, when happy in God, " There certainly is 
a heaven." 

Two camp meetings were held on the circuit 
in Greenbush, on the grounds of Sebastian 
"Weatherwax — :one in 1829, the other in 1830. 
On this ground souls were "brought home to 
God." Here I heard, among other ministers, 
J. B. Stratton, E. Chichester, and Asa Kent, 
and was much blessed in listening to the mes- 
sages of mercy from their lips. Brother Kent 
was from the New-England Conference, and 
labored especially, both in preaching and in the 
prayer meetings, to lead Christians to seek ho- 
liness of heart. 

On the next sabbatl} after the camp meeting 



148 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

in 1829, a young man tarried in class meeting 
after the preaching, at Chatham, and told us 
that, during the week previous, he had sought 
and found the Saviour. Not knowing him, and 
having heard nothing of his case at the camp 
meeting, I listened with some doubt, hardly 
able to " believe that he was a disciple." But, 
in a day or two, I went into the neighborhood 
where this young man was teaching school, and 
found Christians rejoicing in the happy change 
that had taken place in their schoolmaster. It 
appears that he went to the camp meeting a 
trifling, but not an immoral, backslider. The ball- 
room had, perhaps, stolen his heart away from 
God. He expected to meet some of his young 
associates at the meeting, but when he arrived 
there he found them not. The pious wife of 
my beloved colleague, who knew him, took an 
opportunity to exhort him earnestly to return 
to the Lord. A pious relative made a similar 
effort. The blessing of the Lord crowned the 
attempt ; and, in the course of the afternoon, 
he entered the prayer meeting desiring an in- 
terest in the prayers of the people of God. 
vScarcely had he taken this decided step, before 
the prayer meeting was closed by the call for 
the people to resort to the stand for preaching. 
But the snare of the devil was broken ; and just 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



149 



as the sun was setting, in answer to the prayer 
of faith, "the Sun of righteousness " arose upon 
his soul "with healing in his wings." Thus 
were the prayers of his pious father and mother 
in a measure answered : they had often prayed 
that heaven and hell might not divide their little 
family. Those parents now sleep in their 
graves, and that son is preaching Jesus on the 
shores of Lake Champlain. He is now (August, 
1847) presiding elder of the Plattsburgh dis- 
trict, in the Troy Conference. 

Among the local preachers on this circuit, 
were two who had long been acquainted with 
Methodism, at both of whose houses I often 
found hospitable entertainment. Rev. David 
Weager resided in Ghent : his father's house, 
or barn, was one of Benjamin Abbott's preach- 
ing places when he traveled Dutchess circuit, 
in 1789, which, at that time, extended almost as 
far north, I believe, as the city of Albany. Da- 
vid found the Lord when but a child, and yet 
lives, I believe, to proclaim the glad tidings of 
salvation. Rev. Justus Gregory resided at 
Sand Lake, in Rensselaer county. When B. 
Abbott came to Dutchess circuit, J. Gregory was 
a proud young merchant in Dover ; but God 
made that plain-spoken minister the means of 
his awakening and conversion. 



150 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



One sabbath morning I rode eight miles from 
Valatie, (where I had preached on Saturday 
evening.) to Chatham, and preached at 10 
o'clock. When the service was over, a young 
man, who was a near neighbor of mine, came 
to me and informed me that my house was 
burnt to ashes. I was, however, very grateful 
to God who had preserved all my dear family 
from the flames, and very thankful to his peo- 
ple for their kindness in making up the loss 
which I had sustained. Temporary conflagra- 
tions here are dreadful, but " who among us 
shall dwell with everlasting burnings ?" 

A. Scholefied, who had been my preacher 
in charge, (in 1824,) and, after that, my pre- 
siding elder, (in 1827,) was now a supernume- 
rary preacher dwelling on this circuit. Once 
in four weeks I generally had the pleasure of 
calling at his house, and he would kindly go 
with me, pray for me, and help me in the pul- 
pit. One evening which I spent with him I 
well remember: it was at his own house, in 
company with his family, brother Hall, his wife, 
my wife, and a young local preacher. The 
blessed Jesus was in the midst. We had a most 
melting, heavenly season, which I trust will be 
gratefully remembered by us all in another 
world. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



151 



In the neighborhood called Oak Hill we had 
quite a revival of religion : also in that part of 
New-Lebanon where I resided, several profess- 
ed to find the Saviour. One morning, while I 
was at breakfast, a lad, who lived about two 
miles distant, rode up to the door and told me 
that his parents wished me to come to their 
house. I went directly, and found a young man, 
who was in their employment, earnestly seek- 
ing for mercy. When he found the blessing, he 
cheerfully and boldly declared the goodness of 
God to others, and some of them fled to the ark 
of safety. One young man, when ploughing in 
the field while his father and mother were gone 
to camp meeting, began to soliloquize thus : — 
" My parents are at camp meeting, and I am 
here : but are they not praying for me ? I must 
pray for myself." Soon after the return of his 
parents, I had an appointment on a week day 
at the school-house near their dwelling. I was 
surprised to see the son remain with the class 
after preaching, not having heard of any unu- 
sual seriousness in his mind : indeed, I was al- 
most tempted to pass by him in the class meet- 
ing, but finally spoke to him like this : — " Tho- 
mas, can you tell us the state of your mind ?" 
What was my joyful surprise when he answer- 
ed, with flowing tears, " I feel that I am a sin- 



152 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



ner." He soon found that Jesus came to save 
sinners ; and he is now preaching that blessed 
truth among the mountains of Vermont.* 

Among my papers, written at this time, I 
find accounts of two remarkable circumstances 
which came to my knowledge then, although 
they happened long ago. These papers I will 
abridge and transcribe : — 

"Mr. C, a revolutionary soldier, said, that 
when the Methodist preachers first visited his 
neighborhood, he was told they were sent by 
King George, to subjugate the Americans by 
religious influence, as he had failed to conquer 
them by force of arms. Mr. C. felt indigna- 
tion rising up against them to such a degree 
that he was almost willing to shoot them ; but 
he thought he would hear for himself. He went 
to the place appointed for preaching : but, when 
the preacher drew near the house, Mr. C. be- 
gan to tremble. 6 What does this mean ?' thought 
he ; 6 I have faced the British red-coats without 
trembling, why do I tremble now ?' But when 
the minister preached, he found, as he afterward 
expressed it, ' that it was not King George, but 
King Jesus, who had sent them.' Afterward, 
when a proposition was made for those who 
wished to do so, to join class for six months on 
* A few months since he fell asleep in Jesus. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



153 



probation at first, Mr. C. exclaimed, ' I am no 
six-months' man ; put me down for life.' " 

The other paper is entitled " The Contrast :" 
" During the revolutionary war, an American 
horseman, who was near the British army, ob- 
served a horse, belonging to a British officer, 
standing near a house ; and, supposing the offi- 
cer to be within, rode up, and when the Briton 
came out, presented his pistol, made him a pri- 
soner, and led him off in triumph. It appears 
that, at the close of the war, this officer return- 
ed to his native country, but eventually emi- 
grated to America. The war had closed, the 
noise of battle had ceased in the land, the zephyrs 
of peace moved gently over the hills and vales, 
and the doctrine of a free and full salvation was 
proclaimed among the people. Among others 
who embraced it by faith, was the American 
horseman whom we have mentioned. At length 
he commenced preaching the gospel of peace. 
In his travels he observed, at a certain place, 
a man deeply affected under the word. He 
partly recognized the man's countenance, but 
where or when he had seen him he could not 
tell. At the close of the meeting this man ma- 
nifested a strong determination to serve the 
Lord, and to avail himself of the help which 
Christians could render him. Upon inquiry, 



154 



PASSAGES IX THE LIFE 



it appeared that he was the very man who, 

a few years before, was taken prisoner by the 
valiant American. "What a contr: r . 
the feelings of both parties on the former occa- 
sion and on the present ? "Who would not right 
under the banner of Jesus ?*' 

During the winter of 1530-31 there was a 
gracious revival of religion in that part of the 
circuit in which brother Pelton particularly la- 
bored, and brother Burton and myself had the 
pleasure of spending some of our time with 
him in the blessed work. The rich and the 
poor, the young and those advanced in lite, were 
seen again and again bowing the knee together 
before the Lord, against whom they had sinned : 
and they found that - the same Lord over all is 
rich in mercy to all that call upon him."* 

A few months before I left Chatham circuit, 
we held what we termed a four-days* meeting 
in Chatham, in connection with the quarterlv 
meeting. I had attended one on an adjoining 
circuit in the autumn previous, where there 
were no conversions, although several able min- 
isters were there, and the people attended in 
considerable numbers. A memorandum, which 
I made at the time, of our meeting at Chatham, 
reacts as follows : — u It began on Friday, with 
a sermon by brother Starks. On Friday even- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



155 



ing, when an invitation was given by bro- 
ther Scholefield for mourners to come to the 
altar, three or four presented themselves, but 
one of them was led away immediately by her 
husband, Mr. TV". On Saturday a powerful 
sermon, on sanctification, was preached. In the 
evening a number came to the altar. On sab- 
bath our meeting was good, and penitents came 
forward both in the daytime and in the even- 
ing. Xext day the presiding elder departed, 
and all the ministers, except brother Burton, a 
local preacher residing there, and myself. But 
God was with us. In the morning prayer meet- 
ing, one, who had been at the altar the evening 
before, told us that God had comforted her soul. 
This gave us much encouragement. Fervent 
prayer went up to heaven in behalf of the peo- 
ple, and meetings were held every evening 
through the week in that neighborhood, and a 
number of souls were converted before the en- 
suing sabbath. Among others Mr. W.$ who 
had led his wife away from the altar at the first 
evening of the meeting, professed to be convert- 
ed, and, together with his wife, rejoiced in God. 
We also had a considerable ingathering of 
souls at East Xassau, where stated Methodist 
preaching was commenced anew after I went 
on to the circuit. I think that about fifty in 



156 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



the first year, and not far from one hundred and 
twenty in the second, united with us in the dif- 
ferent places on the circuit, including, in this 
last number, those who were received on pro- 
bation in Nassau village, where brother Pelton 
chiefly labored. 

Among those added to the Lord in this cir- 
cuit, were a few who, I learned, thought that 
my preaching had been the particular instru- 
ment in the hands of God to bring them to 
Christ 

One of these, who has since gone rejoicing to 
glory, I beg leave to mention. His name was 
William Harvey Cox. He resided in East 
Nassau ; and, if I rightly recollect, was nearly 
or quite the first subject of the revival I have 
just named. Long had his widowed mother 
and other pious friends prayed for the conver- 
sion of this amiable, hospitable young man. 
From his childhood he had been accustomed to 
minister unto the ambassadors of Christ. At 
length he heard a sermon from these words : — 
"Thou Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, 
shalt be thrust down to hell ;" in which the guilt 
and danger of those who misimprove great pri- 
vileges were plainly set before the congrega- 
tion. His conscience was affected, his heart 
melted, and he turned to the Lord and found 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



157 



mercy. His companion, also, sought the great 
salvation, and obtained the blood-bought prize. 

One of our quarterly meetings on this circuit 
was held in the grove, our church in that place 
being too small to accommodate all who were 
expected. The presiding elder was necessarily 
absent, but brother Lewis Pease came in his 
place, and, though in feeble health, preached to 
the multitude with great power. A lay brother, 
from White Plains, Westchester county, being 
present, was called upon to exhort after one 
the sermons. He told of his pious, widowed 
mother, of her first connection with Methodism, 
of the opposition she met with from many, 
and of the thoughtlessness of her irreligious 
children. And then he told of her perse- 
verance and her prayers, and of her chil- 
dren's conversion to God. These statements, 
and others which he made, gave force to his ex- 
hortations and interest to his remarks, and the 
Lord's people were much quickened. 

In May, 1831, I closed my labors on Chat- 
ham circuit. I rejoice in the work wrought by 
the Lord during those two years ; but I rejoice 
still more in what the Lord has since done among 
them at different times. When I visited them, 
about six years and a half afterward, I found that 
not less than thirteen new Methodist churches 



158 PASSAGES IN LIFE OF E. OSBORN. 

had been erected in that time, in the section of 
country included in Chatham circuit when I 
went there to labor. To God be all the glory. 

CONCLUSION. 

Should this simple narrative of the good- 
ness of God to an unworthy worm prove, in the 
judgment of my brethren, in any degree useful 
to my fellow-men, and conducive to the glory 
of God, I may, at some future time, continue 
the narrative from the year 1831 to the present 
time. This would embrace an account of my 
labors in the counties of Columbia, Delaware, 
Schoharie, Greene, Albany, Westchester, Suf- 
folk, and Queens, and in the Harlem mission in 
the upper part of the city and county of New* 
York. During those fifteen years I have been 
permitted to rejoice with my colleagues, on the 
different circuits where I have traveled, in the ad- 
dition of about thirteen hundred to our religious 
societies. Let me close, by earnestly request- 
ing every pious reader to pray fervently for the 
holiness, usefulness, and eternal salvation of the 
writer, and every member of his family. 



THE END. 



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OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUPCH. 



Jesuits, the. 

The Jesuits. An Historical Sketch. 

18mo., pp, 220. Muslin $0 25 

This is a very important and most seasonable work. . . . The 
Histories of the Jesuits are of various degrees of merit ; but, 
for popular purposes, none are comparable to the volume 
before us, which, although small, comprises the marrow of 
the theme, exhibiting the great facts of their baneful record 
in every land. — British Banner. 

To those who have not access to larger works, this little book 
will furnish a very satisfactory history of this celebrated 
order. It ... . is, for the most part, condensed from the 
works of the Jesuits themselves. It is a book for the times, 
... in view of the revival of this order in many parts of 
Europe and throughout America.— Christian Advocate, and 
Journal. 

This work is drawn from original and authentic sources, . . . 
May this little work, by the blessing of God, be made useful 
in aiding to awaken 'our countrymen to a perception of 
the fatal effects which this order has produced in the reli- 
gion, the morals., and the liberties of every community in 
which it has obtained a settlement [—London Tract Maga- 
zine, 



English Country Pictures. 

English Country Pictures ; or, Drawing without a Pencil. 
With numerous Engravings. By Old Humphrey. 

18mo,, pp. 182, Muslin %0 25 

A series of sketches of home and country scenes in merry 
England, by a well-known writer.— Methodist Quarterly 
Review. 

Here we have twenty-four graphic pictures of English life 
by "Old Humphrey," drawn in his best style. ... No re- 
commendation of this work is needed at oiir hand. The 
interest of the stories is well sustained, and the moral les- 
sons inculcated important and practical.— Christian Advo- 
cate and Journal. 

Here are pictures of farm-houses, farm-yards, cottages, fields, 

Ac and other rural scenes .... which cannot fail to 

interest by their descriptions, and do good to the reader by 
the good advice which is judiciously interwoven.— London 
Child's Companion. 



PASSAGES 

IN THE 

LIFE AND MINISTRY 

OF 

ELBERT OSBOM, 

An Itinerant Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 
ILLUSTRATING 

THE PROVIDENCE AND GRACE OF GOD. 
tDritten bp Cjtmaetf. 
PART II. 

EXTENDING FROM 1831 TO 1849. 
(; HITHERTO HATH THE LORD HELPED ME." 

PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR. 

200 Mulberry-street. 

JOSEPH LONGKING, PRINTER 
1851. 



Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 1850, 

BY ELBERT OSBORN, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District 
of New- York. 



RECOMMENDATIONS. 



From Rev. Edwin E. Griswold, Pastor of the 
M. E. Church in Mulberry-street, New-York : — 

New- York, Dec. 10th, 1849. 
" I have read the manuscript of the second part 
of * Passages in the Life of Rev. Elbert Osborn/ 
and do most sincerely repeat, in respect to this, 
my testimony in favor of the first part. I think 
it will be abundantly useful. 

k ° E. E. Griswold." 

From Rev. John Luckey, Pastor of the M. E. 
Church in Pleasantville. 

Pleasant ville, Oct. 12th, 1849. 
"Dear Brother Osborn — If the readers of 
your second volume of * Passages in the Life 
and Ministry/ &c, become as much interested 
in it as I was in reading the manuscript, they 
will never regret either the price paid for the 
book, or the time consumed in reading it. It is 
indeed 'full of incident' and characterized by 
'beautiful simplicity, and unwavering truthful- 
ness.' John Luckey." 



PREFACE. 



In October, 1847, a little book was pub- 
lished containing a sketch of some " Pas- 
sages" of my personal history. The 
narrative was brought down to May, 
1831. Several friends, who perused 
that sketch, have expressed a strong 
desire to have it continued to a later 
period. Having more confidence in their 
judgment in this matter than in my own, 
I have written a continuation of my nar- 
rative. The sale of the First Part has 
been much more extensive than I could 
reasonably have expected. To those 
who have taken the trouble to promote 
the circulation of that little book, I re- 



6 



PREFACE. 



turn my sincere thanks. Should they 
read the Second Part, it is my prayer 
that He who can use the weakest in- 
struments to promote his blessed cause 
may make even this imperfect produc- 
tion a means of some benefit to their 
souls. 

Although I have mentioned the names 
of many dear friends in these sketches, 
yet many other names equally dear have 
not been mentioned, lest I should be 
too prolix for endurance. May the names 
of all my dear friends be written in the 
Lamb's Book of Life. There, too, I 
humbly hope to find the name of 

Elbert Osborn. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 
GHENT CIRCUIT. 
(From May, 1831, to June, 1832.) 



Page 



Conference at Middletown. . 15 
Sermon of J. J. Matthias ... 15 

John Alley — his death 15 

David Holmes 16 

Revival in Alford, Mass 16 

Commencement of the work 17 

Ann Husted 18 

Her parents' joy 18 

Her father's death 19 

Desevignia Starks 19 

Quarterly meeting in a barn 20 
Daughter of A. Scholefield 

awakened 20 

Camp-meeting in Canaan. . . 20 
Revival at Hillsdale Centre. 21 

Crying for mercy 21 

Number converted 21 



Page 



Widowed mother rejoicing. 22 
Personal conversation use- 
ful 22 

Protracted meeting in Lenox, 

Chatham, Hudson, <fec. . . 22 
Conversions in Ghent Cir- 
cuit 22 

Four days' meeting in the 

north part of Hillsdale 23 

Preachers who attended 23 

Unfavorable prospects 23 

Awakenings take place 23 

Last day of the meeting. . . . 24 

Many mourners 24 

A. Scholefield's sermon 24 

Glorious close 24 

Death of author's child 25 



CHAPTER EE. 
HILLSDALE CIRCUIT. 

(From June, 1832, to May, 1833.) 



Conference in 1832 

Bishop Roberts 

Circuit enlarged and name 
changed 

Additions 

First quarterly meeting 

Young converts from Mill- 
ville 

Henry L. Starks 

Useful pastoral visits 

H. Truesdell proposes a pro- 
tracted meeting 

Difficulties 



26! One appointed at Foster's 

26 meeting-house 28 

Preparation for the meeting. 28 

26; Day of fasting 29 

26 \ Ministers from a distance. . . 29 

27 God blesses their labors. . . 29 
Lawyer awakened and con- 

27 verted 29 

27 Earnest prayers of a little girl 30 

27 Her father seeks the Lord. . 31 
Departure of ministers 31 

28 Author's anxiety 32 

28 He is encouraged 32 



CONTENTS. 



Conversions increase 

Second week of the meet- 
ing 

Much good effected 

The happy lawyer and his 
pious wife 

Sunrise prayer-meetings 

Conversion in family prayer. 

Joyful exclamation 



Tag* 

Great change 35 

Thirty penitents at once .... 35 
Fifty-five profess conversion 36 

Probationers admitted 36 

Preachers who assisted 36 

J. Ham and J. Simpson 37 

Simpson's death in Maine . . 37 
Second revival in the north 
part of Hillsdale 38 



CHAPTER III 
DELAWARE CIRCUIT. 
(From May, 1833, to May, 1835.) 



Appointments in the circuit 

Conference in Poughkeepsie 

Sermons of Dr. Fisk and 
Bishop Hedding 

Journey to the circuit 

Crossing the Catskill moun- 
tains 

Cheering thought 

S. Fenton — A. Gregory 

Revival of preceding year. . . 

Treatment of young con- 
verts 

Dissatisfaction in Davenport 

Extra meeting there in a 
bam 

Unpromising beginning 

Congregation of two persons 

Encouragement 

John Bangs, an old soldier. . 

Congregation increases 

Conversions 

Probationers admitted 

Revival continues 



39 



William M. Ferguson 47 

Ball prevented 47 

Old pilgrims 47 

Kindness received by the au- 
thor's family 49 

" Life of John Smith" 49 

Jesse Carley 50 

Revival in East Franklin. . . 50 
O. W. Munger and wife. ... 50 
One hundred probationers re- 
ceived in three months. . . 51 
Conference at New-Haven, 

in 1834 51 

College library 51 

Inauguration of governor... 52 
Charles Sherman's request. 52 
Author's return to the circuit 52 
Name of the circuit changed 

to Bloomville 52 

Revival in Franklin Village. 52 
J. M. Pease— A. Peck— M. 
Marvin— W. Rounds— B. 
W. Gorham— D. Terry... 53 



CHAPTER IV. 

JEFFERSON CIRCUIT. 

(From May, 1835, to July, 1836.) 

O. G. Hedstrom's first circuit 59 
He goes to a camp-meet- 
ing 60 

Good work at that meet- 
ing 60 



Conference in Brooklyn 54 

Bishop Emory 54 

Colleagues— J. Bangs— R. H. 

Bloomer 54 

First interview with col- 
leagues 59 



Revival on his circuit 60 



CONTENTS 







Page Page 

Meeting in a barn 60! A wife rejoicing at her hus- 

Revival in Charlottesville.. 60 J band's conversion 67 

C. Hawley 61 j The long-remembered tear. 69 

A. son's prayer answered... 62 j New church in Summitt 69 

Twenty converted in a short j Revival in Jefferson 69 

time 62 1 Ministers from abroad 70 

J. HartweU— N. T. Shaler— j Descendants of the Brai- 

W. S. StillweU— C. Gorse | nerds 7 70 

E.S.Cook 62 Aged sinner converted in 

Troy Conference at Albany 63; answer to his son's prayers 70 
Deaths of Bishop Emory and {Revival at Dutch Hill 72 

A. Scholefield 63 'Quarterly meeting and pro- 
Revival in Summitt 63 [ tracted meeting there 72 

Meeting in the open air 63 ; Thirty- seven conversions in 

J. Bangs — D. Starks 64 j six days 73 

Temptation to despondency 64 j Fifty-five probationers 74 

Brothers Hawley and Hed- (Help from abroad 74 

strom 64 : Harvey Brown's sermon 74 

Gracious work of God 65 .-Revival in Davenport 75 

A blessed Sabbath — Fifty ! Meetings in Prattsville, 

mourners 66 j Byrneville, Hobart, &c... 76 

Twelve or fourteen convert- j Severe snow-storm 77 

ed in one day 66 Help from a young convert. . 78 

N. White at quarterly meet- j Curious expedient 78 

ing 66 Difficulties 79 

Several converted there... 66 j Two hundred probationers in 
Remarkable change 66 1 nine months 80 



CHAPTER V. 
WINDHAM CIRCUIT. 

(From July, 1836, to May, 1837.) 

Peculiar views of the author 81 ' Camp-meetings in Green- 

D. Brainerd 82 ville and Jefferson 89 

Revival in East Kill 82 Grave of H. Calvin Wooster 90 

Promise to a dying youth... 83 Decrease of Methodists in 

Conversation on the road.. 84! the United States 90 

Protracted meeting proposed 84 Increase next year 91 

Commenced by an outpour- j Re rival in West Hunter 91 

ing of the Spirit 85 'Charles Chase— J. Artman.. 91 

Pious woman's advice 85 Ten fellow-laborers 92 

Her husband, father, and j David Webster's narrative of 

other relatives converted. 86) his conversion 92 

Pastoral visits in the hay- His parents converted— his 

fields 88| death 94 

Number of converts 88 O. G. Hedstrom's personal 

Quarterly meeting in West narrative 94 

Hunter „ 89 ! Merchant converted 95 



10 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Division of labor 97 

R. H. Bloomer's pastoral 

visit 97 

Inn-keeper converted 98 

Stops selling rum 99 

Public worship at his house 99 
Revival in Davenport Cen- 
tre 99 

Revival in Durham, N. Y. 100 
View from the Catskills. . . 100 
B. Smith— P. Cook— D. J. 

Wright, &c 101 

Faith tried at first 101 

Prayer answered 102 

Mourners surround the altar 102 

Good results 102 

W. F. Collins— J. Carver. . 102 



Page 

Meeting at Beaver-dam and 
Moresville 102 

A. Scholefield's son in the 
gospel 103 

His last letter to the author 103 

Another revival in Mr. Col- 
lins' circuit 105 

Quarterly meeting in East 
Kill— deep snow 105 

Revivals in Mr. Munger's 
circuit 106 

Revivals in Windham cir- 
cuit 108 

Seth Crowell's labors thirty 
years previous 109 

Additions on Windham cir- 
cuit 109 



CHAPTER VI. 
COEYMANS CIRCUIT. 



(From May, 1837, to May, 1838.) 



F. W. Sizer 

Chatham circuit remember- 
ed 

The Stone Church, and Con- 
ference of 1807 

Hugh Jolly— L. Craw 

Camp-meeting in Ancram. . 

B. Griffin— S. Cochran 

Prayer on the way to a pro- 
tracted meeting 

Success and grateful joy. . 

Revival in Coeymans Hol- 
low 

Father Blodget 

Previous revival 

Preparatory meeting 

Arrival of D. Starks 

Christians quickened 

Awakenings — Conversions 

Result of two weeks' labor 

More than eighty converts 

Visit to New-Lebanon 

William M. Chipp 

Revival in Bethlehem 

Professors aroused 

J. Poor's labors 



Ill 



Many awakened 122 

Probationers admitted 123 

Awakening in Castleton. . . 123 

John Alley 124 

Two interesting conver- 
sions 124 

Judge Hogeboom 125 

Return through the storm. . 125 

Revival in Coxsackie 126 

J. D. Marshall 127 

First conversion 127 

Lay brethren 128 

Jason Wells 129 

J. B. Wakely's visit — his 

life in danger 130 

Death of Jesse Carley 132 

Seventy converted in three 

weeks 132 

Greenbush— E. Northrup— 

Dr. Levings 133 

Visit to the Legislature 134 

J. Poor at Coeymans 134 

H. Jolly's remark on the 

revivals 134 

H. C. Wooster's sister 136 

" Carvosso's Life" 136 



CONTENT* 



11 



CHAPTER VII. 



NEW-ROCHELLE CIRCUIT. 

(From May, 1838, to July, 1840.) 



Page 

The Huguenots 138 

Rochelle and New-Rochelle 139 
Ancient Methodist church. 139 
Last sermon in that house. 139 
Ministers of former years. . 139 
E. Wolsey— P. Chamberlin 141 

Revival at Rye 141 

Ezekiel Halstead — his fami- 
ly—William Halstead... 141 
J. D. Bangs and wife— his 
dying admonition— good 

effects 142 

Work of God in Mamaro- 

neck 142 

New church in New-Ro- 
chelle 143 

Andrew Deveau — Joshua 

Wells 143 

W. Jewett— S. U. Fisher. 144 
Awakening in Port Chester 144 
G. C. Bancroft— Help from 

New- Jersey 144 

Death of two aged widows 146 
John Summerfield 147 



E. Oldrin— W. Gothard-S. Pa&9 

G. Stebbins.. 148 

Revivals in Stamford cir- 
cuit 148 

E. Wolsey's narrative 149 

Revival in Greenburgh 150 

J. A. Silleck— R. C. Putney 150 

Camp-meetings 150 

S. Marti ndale's sermon on 

board of a sloop 151 

A conversion during the 

sermon 151 

Mrs. Margaret Prior 151 

Camp-meeting in New-Jer- 
sey 152 

S. Halstead— W. Burrows— 

W. Roberts 152 

Henry Boehm 153 

Another revival in Rye 153 

T. Paine's former abode in 

New-Rochelle 154 

The praise of Jesus sung 

there 154 

Robert Newton's preaching 155 



CHAPTER VIII. 
HARLEM MISSION AND FLUSHING. 
(From July, 1840, to June, 1842.) 



Churches at Twenty- 
seventh street, Forty-first 
street, Yorkville, and Har- 
lem 

David Terry 

Glorious camp-meeting. . . 

E. S. Janes' sermon 

Two hundred and twenty- 
seven conversions, and 
eighty sanctified at the 
camp-meeting 



163 



Return on the boat 163 

Revival in Harlem 164 

Revival at the Forty-first- 

street church 164 

A Dutch woman convert- 
ed 164 

Dr. Nast 164 

The City Aims-House 165 

Remark on the countenance 

of Mr. Wesley 165 

A donation visit 166 



12 



CONTENTS. 



Page 

Eighty-three received on 

probation 167 

George G. Cookman-— His 
sermons at Brooklyn and 

in the Capitol 167 

His burial in the ocean 168 

Flushing 168 

Revival in Flushing- in 
1839 168 



Page 

H. Bangs— J. Poisal— W. C. 

Hawley— J. W. Redfield 169 
Revival at Middle Village . . 169 

Sudden death 170 

Father and Mother Harper 170 
Arrangements for a new- 
church in Flushing 171 

M. Richardson at Willet-st. 
church — Revival there . . 172 



CHAPTER IX. 
SMITHTOWN CIRCUIT. 
(From June, 1842, to July, 1844.) 



Appointments in the circuit 173 
Colleague— T. C. Youngs.. 173 
Camp-meetings on Long Is- 
land 173 

Daniel Burrows 174 

Annual Conference in his 

dwelling, in 1795 174 

Illness of the author 175 

Revival in Comae 175 

Increasing illness 175 

O. Starr— David Osborn... 175 
Revival at East Middle 

Island 176 

Society small 176 

New church just built 176 

Faith of Christians 177 

" The battle is the Lord's" . . 177 

First conversion 178 

Several conversions 179 

A persevering seeker 181 

Young converts useful 183 

Aged sinner converted 184 

Prayers of former days re- 
membered 185 

The exclamation " Pray for 

me" 186 

The Catholic 186 

A convert leads his brother 

to Christ 191 

The inn-keeper awakened. 191 
Christians anxious for him. 193 
Advice of a judge to him ... 193 
His wife converted 194 1 



He finds mercy — is very 



happy 194 

His anxiety for others 194 

His pious mother's joy 196 

Alcohol driven out 196 

Good meeting in his ball- 
room 197 

Aged sinner crying for 

mercy in the street 199 

Seventy-five profess con- 
version 200 

Twenty mourners at the 

close 200 

Macedonian cry 200 

Great revival in Port Jeffer- 201 

son 201 

Millerism inefficient 201 

God works when preachers 

are absent 202 

Stony Brook, Setauket, and 
Mount Sinai visited in 

great mercy 202 

Revivals throughout the cir- 
cuit 203 

Three hundred and fifty ad- 
mitted on probation 203 

N. Rice, and J. N. Robinson 203 

Boiler of the Lexington 204 

General Conference 204 

Dr. Olin, G. F. Pierce, and 
J. T. Peck, on the case of 

Bishop Andrew 205 

Death of author's mother. . 205 



CONTENTS. 



13 



CHAPTER X 5 

NORTH HEMPSTEAD — HUNTINGTON— PLEA* 
SANTVILLE. 

(From July, 1844, to May, 1849.) 



Page 

Roslyn, Searingtown, Nor- 



wich, Buckram, &c 207 

J. Sweeney— O. E, Brown 207 

Revival in Glen Cove 208 

Kindness in sickness 208 

J. B. Matthias in old age. . . 208 

Huntington circuit 208 

Isaac Sanford 208 

Cold Spring— Woodbury — 
Northport— West Hills.. 209 

JohnLuckev 209 

Loyd's Neck 209 

Camp-meetings at Farming- 
dale and Rye 210 

Visit from an old pilgrim, 
Mrs. Nancy Overton, , , t , 310 



Paga 



Conference in 1847 210 

Kind reception at Pleasant- 
vflle... 210 

M. Richardson, presiding 
elder 211 

Revivals at Newcastle and 
Pine's Bridge, in brother 
Luckey's charge 211 

Revivals in Pleasantville 
charge 211 

H. Hobby— J. W. Redfield. . 211 

Camp-meeting at Sing Sing, 
in 1847 211 

Camp-meeting at Pleasant- 
ville, in 1848 211 

Probationers received..,.. 213 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



OP 

ELBEBT OSBORN. 



PART II. 



CHAPTER t, 

GHENT CIRCUIT, 

At the session of the New- York Conference in 
Middletown, Conn., I received my appointment 
to Ghent circuit, in Columbia county, which em- 
braced two societies that were included in Chat- 
ham circuit when I went there in 1829. A ser- 
mon, preached during the conference by Rev. 
J. J. Matthias, led me to resolve to preach more 
explicitly on the subject of holiness than I had 
done in former years. 

Brother John Alley, a minister in the second 
year of his probation, was appointed from con- 
ference to this circuit with me ; but it was with 
the understanding that he should occupy a por- 
tion of territory at the north end of the circuit, 



16 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



while I took charge of the remainder.* As 
there were more places which needed Sabbath 
preaching than I could possibly supply, we so- 
licited and obtained the aid of two local preach- 
ers belonging to the circuit ; namely, Rev, David 
Weager and Rev. Israel Northrop. These breth- 
ren alternated with myself at the different Sab- 
bath appointments. 

Soon after removing to this circuit, and while 
I was striving to put my good resolutions in 
practice by urging Christians to be pure in heart, 
and by visiting the unconverted at their own 
houses, I was invited by Rev. David Holmes to 
assist him in a four-days' meeting at Alford. I 
had begun already to rejoice in seeing some in- 

'* Mr. Alley was a man of noble appearance, and quite 
popular as a preacher; but, at the ensuing annual confer- 
ence, he did not give full satisfaction to the committee in 
reference to the improvement of his mind in useful know- 
ledge. Strong efforts were made by some to have him discon- 
tinued ; but others (of whom I was one) urged the conference 
to try him another year, as we hoped for an improvement in 
knowledge, and also an increased zeal in the performance 
of pastoral duty. The reader will be pleased to learn that 
Mr. Alley was admitted into full connection at the ensuing 
conference ; and, after laboring in Leicester, Wallingford, 
Pawlet, Dalton, Lansingburg, Poultney, Pittsford, Evans' 
Mills, Rome, and Oswego, he was elected bishop of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church in Canada. His course, however, 
was soon finished in peace. May I meet him in the kingdom 
of God ! 



OF ELBEUT OSBORN. 



17 



dications of the revival of God's work in my own 
circuit ; but I knew that u he who would have 
friends must show himself friendly." Trusting 
that brothers Holmes and Starks would repay 
my feeble labors, I accepted the invitation. Al- 
ford is in Berkshire county, Mass., and lay a few 
miles east of the place of my residence. The 
morning of July 5th, 1831, was a delightful 
morning. While traveling over the hills and 
through the vales on my way to Alford, and 
meditating on the obstacles to a revival which 
existed in that place, I was much encouraged 
by these words being powerfully impressed upon 
my mind : — " The Lord of Hosts is with us, the 
God of Jacob is our refuge." At first the con- 
gregation was very small, and even some of the 
preachers who attended thought that but little 
good would be done at the meeting ; but, on the 
evening of the second day, God manifested his 
awakening power at a meeting held by Rev. J. 
W. Belknap, about three miles from the church. 
On the next morning the people and preachers, 
who had worshiped in different neighborhoods 
on the previous evening, met at the church, and, 
with increased courage, pursued their blessed 
work. 

One of our most efficient preachers was obliged 
to leave us that morning, but we felt that God 
2 



18 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



was with us. The number of mourners was in- 
creased, and the work of conversion commenced. 
In the evening I heard brother Holmes preach 
an excellent sermon, in a school-house about two 
miles north of the church. The discourse was 
followed by a most blessed class-meeting. The 
next day, which was the last day of the feast, 
we had a glorious and refreshing season. Not- 
withstanding the pressing business of the season 
among the farmers, the congregation was very 
large. About fifteen persons presented them- 
selves for our prayers on that day, and six or 
seven professed to receive pardon during the 
meeting. Among these was Ann Husted, the 
youngest sister of two worthy ministers of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. On the first day 
of the meeting two ministers called at the house 
of her father, who lived near the church, and 
learned, by inquiring of her, that she was the 
only unconverted child of her affectionate, pious 
parents. "Ann, this will never do," said one 
of the ministers ; " you must seek the Saviour 
too." Ann followed this advice ; and, on the 
last day of the meeting, with a joyful counte- 
nance, told me, just as she entered her father's 
house on her return from the church, that the 
Lord had blessed her soul. With joy, I told 
her father the good news soon after I bad taken 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



19 



my seat in his room. Presently the mother came 
in from another room. The father repeated to 
her what I had said ; and she replied, with deep 
emotion, "Ann has just told me of it herself." 
" O !" said the father, with tears of joy stream- 
ing down his cheeks, " now we can say, 1 As for 
us and our house, we will serve the Lord/ for 
God has converted all our dear children." I will 
just add, that after several years of faithful ser- 
vice in the cause of Christ, Ann left her friends 
below to join the happy millions above.* 

One old gentleman, who had been a member 
of our Church for twenty-seven years, but, in 
consequence of some difficulties, had been out 
of the Church for the last ten years, was greatly 
blessed at this meeting ; and, some time after- 
ward, he, with his son and daughter, united with 
the Methodist Church. Brother Holmes was 
very grateful to God, at the close of the meet- 
ing, that the Lord had been so much better to 
the people than his fears. His colleague, brother 
D. Starks, whose conversion is mentioned on page 

° February 22d, 1849. I have just seen, in to-day's Advo- 
cate, that this excellent man of God went home to a better 
world on the 24th of last month, after a protracted illness, 
in which he was graciously supported by the good hand of 
God. We trust that the joy of the father and daughter, when 
they met in that heavenly land, was far greater than even at 
the time of her conversion 



20 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

148 of Part I. of my narrative, was much re- 
joiced in seeing the work of the Lord begin 
to revive. I returned from this meeting en- 
couraged to labor and pray for a revival in our 
circuit. 

A quarterly meeting, held in brother Weager's 
barn about the first of September, and a camp- 
meeting, held a few days after, in Canaan, on the 
adjoining circuit, were means of preparing the 
way for revivals in our circuit. The quarterly 
meeting, though not held on the Sabbath, was 
well attended, and a few awakened sinners kneeled 
on the barn floor to seek the favor of Him who 
was once cradled in a manger. Some of these 
mourners found their way to the camp-meeting, 
and there obtained the pearl of great price. Two 
of them, at least, have since died in the Lord. 
One of them was the daughter of that man of 
God, Rev. Arnold Scholefield. She professed 
to be awakened under my feeble ministry, I un- 
derstood, a short time before the quarterly meet- 
ing which I have mentioned. When she arose 
among the young converts, at the close of the 
camp-meeting, to testify of the goodness of God, 
her pious father covered his face and wept tears 
of gratitude and joy. The father and the daugh- 
ter, we trust, are now rejoicing in that happy 
world where (to use the expression of a good 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



21 



minister) joy is not such a stranger as to excite 
tears when we meet with it. 

The quarterly meeting and the camp-meeting 
had, in some degree, prepared the way for a 
revival of religion. A four-days' meeting was 
appointed in the Union meeting-house, then 
standing in what is now called (I think) Hills- 
dale Centre; to commence in the forenoon of 
September 20th, 1831, and to be held four days, 
in the morning, afternoon, and evening of each 
day. At the commencement we had a very 
small congregation, although we had three or 
four preachers, and the weather was very fine. 
But we trusted in that God who is able to " save 
by many or by few." As the meeting progressed 
the congregation increased, until the house was 
well filled. Christians conversed personally with 
many individuals when the invitation was given 
for mourners to come to the altar. The sermons 
were often preceded, and still more frequently 
succeeded, by prayer-meeting. The evening of 
the third day was indeed a glorious season. The 
" strong crying " for mercy, uttered by awakened 
sinners, mingling with acclamations of praise from 
young converts and happy Christians, rendered 
it a very interesting scene. Seventeen or eighteen 
persons professed to find mercy during the four 
days of the meeting. One of these was the son 



22 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of a pious widow, whose daughter had been con- 
verted but a few days or weeks previous to this 
meeting. It would seem that both of these 
young persons were the fruits of God's blessing 
on what is sometimes called personal effort ; for 
the mother said to the minister on the circuit, 
"Brother, your conversation with my children 
has done them more good than all the sermons 
which they ever heard." 

The names of the ministers who labored with 
me in this meeting were David Holmes, D. Starks, 
J. Alley, R. M. Little, J. W. Belknap, C. Foss, 
and D. Weager. A commodious Methodist church 
has been erected in that neighborhood since I left 
that part of the country. 

After the revival just described, I was permit- 
ted to spend a little time at protracted meetings 
in Chatham, Lenox, South Canaan, and the 
city of Hudson; and to behold, in each of 
those places, some manifestation of God's saving 
power. These seasons of mercy, together with 
occasional instances of awakening and conversion 
in different parts of the Ghent circuit, encouraged 
me to labor in hope of further outpourings of the 
Holy Spirit; and when some of the converts 
mentioned some sermon, exhortation, or word of 
advice that had dropped from my stammering 
lips as the means of leading them to Christ, my 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



28 



heart was melted with gratitude to God for his 
condescension in working by such a feeble, un- 
worthy instrument. 

Trusting in the good Lord to help us, we ap- 
pointed a four-days' meeting in the north part 
of Hillsdale, Columbia county, ST. Y., at a place 
of worship known as the Downing meeting -house , 
to commence January 24th, 1832. Believing in 
the utility of combined and concentrated effort, 
I invited several brethren from adjoining circuits 
to " come over into " Hillsdale " and help us." 
As I had visited several of these brethren, and 
labored two or three days with each of them, 
they felt themselves under some obligation to 
comply with the invitation. The Rev. Messrs. 
Belknap, Foss, Little, Scholefield, and D. Starks 
assisted us at different periods of the meeting. 

When the meeting commenced, we feared that 
none of these brethren would be with us, as the 
melting snow indicated that the traveling would 
probably be very unfavorable. This also made 
it very unlikely that the congregation would be 
large ; yet I went to the place relying upon God, 
and in the afternoon meeting of the first day four 
persons arose to manifest a desire for the prayers 
of God's people, and in the evening seven or eight 
persons came to the mourners' bench. A favor- 
able change of weather made the traveling agree- 



24 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



able, and, after the first day, the congregation 
was quite large. We were favored with three 
sermons daily, and God's servants preached and 
exhorted in the demonstration of the Spirit ; but, 
in order that the word should be fruitful, we saw 
the necessity of mingling prayer-meetings with 
the preaching. 

On the fourth and last day of the meeting, 
although several had been brought into liberty, 
there were between twenty and thirty persons 
who presented themselves as seekers of pardon- 
ing mercy. While these weeping penitents were 
sitting together in front of the pulpit, Rev. A. 
Scholefield, in compliance with my request, 
preached to them and to the congregation. I 
have a vivid recollection of the solemn, pathetic, 
and appropriate manner in which that servant 
of the Lord addressed us from the words of the 
angel to the women weeping at the sepulchre : — 
"Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus 
which was crucified." 

In the evening of that day we had prayer- 
meeting without preaching, although two or 
three ministers were present. Before the meet- 
ing commenced, several awakened persons took 
the mourners' bench ; and one man, who had 
several times asked the prayers of Christians, 
began to shout the praises of God in an early 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



25 



stage of the meeting. The work went on gra- 
ciously ; and the young converts, who had found 
the Saviour but a day or two before, seemed to 
be the most successful in persuading sinners to 
come to Christ. Before the exercises of the 
evening closed, nine or ten were enabled to lay 
hold, by faith, on the promises of the Saviour, 
The whole number of converts, during the meet- 
ing, was estimated at about twenty-four, and 
others were brought in after the four-days' meet- 
ing had closed. Some of the subjects of the 
work are now, I trust, rejoicing in the kingdom 
of their Father. Some, too, of the brethren and 
sisters, who labored, wept, and prayed during 
that revival, are now resting from their labors in 
the mansions of bliss. 

Before the conference met, in 1832, I was 
called to the severe trial of parting with a little 
son, nearly two years old, who died at Austerlitz 
in March. I had named him William Bramwell, 
out of respect to an eminent servant of God ; 
and I trust that when the body of William Bram- 
well shall come forth from his resting-place, in 
England, "to meet the Lord in the air," then 
also the body of my little child, fashioned after 
"the likeness of Christ's glorious body," shall 
leave his place of quiet repose to mingle with 
the saints in light. 



26 



PASSAGES IK THE LIFE 



CHAPTER II. 

HILLSDALE CIRCUIT. 

The conference in New- York, in 1832, was the 
last that was held before the Troy Conference 
was set off from ours. At this conference Bishop 
Roberts, a man simple in his manners and apos- 
tolic in his zeal, presided. He now rests from 
his labors in paradise. At this conference I was 
appointed to the same circuit, and Rev. R, Hay- 
ter was sent to labor with me ; but. as the society 
at Foster's meeting-house had been transferred 
from the Salisbury circuit to our circuit, (the 
name being changed from Ghent to Hillsdale,) 
we still needed the help of our local brethren, 
which they seemed willing to afford. 

In the course of the summer and autumn, 
brother Hayter and myself were favored with 
some additions to the churches under our care. 
Among those who united with us, were a few 
who had long been members of other Christian 
Churches; but, being convinced that the doc- 
trines, discipline, and usages of our Church were 
Scriptural, and that God was with us, they be- 
lieved it their duty to cast in their lots with us. 
One of these individuals had a brother who was 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



27 



a missionary in Ceylon, and another who was 
laboring in the same blessed work in the Sand- 
wich Islands. As I lived one year under the 
same roof with him, we had many precious sea- 
sons together in conversation, singing, and prayer. 
A sister of his wife was one of the spiritual chil- 
dren that God gave me in that place. Our first 
quarterly meeting after conference was marked 
with much divine influence. Though disappoint- 
ed in not seeing our beloved presiding elder, Rev. 
W. Jewett, in consequence of his illness, yet the 
Lord was near to help and to bless. Our love- 
feast was made veiy interesting by the presence 
and testimony of some young converts from Mill- 
ville, a place at one extremity of the circuit. 
These young friends had come a distance of 
several miles with Henry L. Starks, then an ex- 
horter in that place, but, for some years past, an 
acceptable minister in the Troy Conference.* 

* One of the converts alluded to here was John B. Steves, 
a clerk in a store, who boarded in a public house where a 
colored Methodist domestic was employed. A minister went 
to the house to give religious advice to the Methodist em- 
ployed there, and young Steves, seeing him enter, resolved 
he would go in also, that he might show his courage and wit 
in replying to the inquiries and remarks which he supposed 
would be addressed to him ; but, after he entered the house, 
the kind words of the minister had such an effect on his 
heart as, by the divine blessing, resulted in his humble peni- 
tence and conversion to God. After several years of faith* 



28 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Being thus encouraged to labor for God. we 
were not unwilling to comply with the request 
of a beloved local preacher, H. Truesdell, (now 
resting in paradise,) to appoint a four-days' meet- 
ing at Hillsdale, in the Foster meeting-house, 
near which brother Truesdell resided. A simi- 
lar meeting, held in the place by our predeces- 
sors about a year previous, had been the means 
of much good. Several young people professed 
to find mercy then, and we hoped for similar 
success. Some of the brethren, it is true, were 
fearful that certain difficulties, which could not 
be immediately removed, would prove insupera- 
ble impediments to the good work ; and felt like 
the pious women, who sorrowfully inquired, 
"Who shall roll us away the stone from the 
door of the sepulchre ?" But most of our friends 
seemed to hope that God would own and bless 
our efforts. Accordingly, we appointed the meet- 
ing to commence December 11th, and, a few days 
previous to its commencement, a sermon was 
preached, in which Christians were urged to help 
forward the cause of God. The society were 
requested to spend a short season daily in secret 

fulness in serving God and Ms Church, he was called home 
to his eternal reward. Thus the minister, in discharging his 
duty to a poor colored Christian, was the means of bringing 
a soul to Christ who proved very useful in the Church. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



29 



prayer, specially imploring the blessing of God 
on the intended meeting. They were also ad- 
vised to observe the Friday previous to the meet- 
ing as a day of fasting, or abstinence and prayer. 

At the time appointed, we commenced the 
meeting in the name of our Master ; yea, 1 if in 
the name of our God we set up our banners." 
On the first day of the meeting, when an oppor- 
tunity was given, three persons arose in the con- 
gregation to manifest their wish for the prayers 
of the pious. One of these had been serious for 
some time, and had, but a short time previous to 
this, manifested her serious desires in a similar 
manner. On the second and third days of the 
meeting, ministers from a distance came to our 
help. Under the labors of one of them, two per- 
sons, who had been comforting themselves with 
the hope that sin in this life would not harm 
them in another world, were convinced of the 
necessity of immediate repentance. Another 
minister, who was with us but two days, also 
had two souls given him as the fruit of his la- 
bors. One of these was a lawyer, who had 
thought himself quite a decent man ; but was 
convinced, under the sermon of our brother, that 
he was, to use his own expression, " bad enough.'' 
This man, however, did not come to the altar till 
the next week after his depravity had thus been 



30 PASSAGES m THE LIFE 

exhibited to his own view. His pious., praying 
wife went to him in the congregation to entreat 
him to yield to the claims of duty and seek the 
Lord ; and though he did not comply that evening, 
yet on the next he was seen among the penitents, 
and on the following evening was rejoicing in the 
Lord. 

It was said that, faring the first week of the 
meeting, one man remarked, in scorn, that it was 
" only a few weak women and children that went 
to the altar." However, some of these weeping 
seekers were comforted by the Most High. The 
first instance was a young woman, whose mother's 
funeral sermon I had preached in that house some 
months before, If I rightly remember, that fu- 
neral sermon was the means of awakening one 
of the neighbors. On the fourth evening of the 
meeting, after others had come to the altar, a 
little girl, about eleven or twelve years old, I 
should presume, came forward without any per- 
sonal solicitation, and seemed to be in deep dis- 
tress. Having been brought to Christ in child- 
hood myself, I was peculiarly mterested in her 
case. Leaning over the communion rail, that I 
might more distinctly hear her petitions while 
others were crying for mercy around her, I could 
hear her use expressions like these : — " Lord, 
have mercy on me, a poor sinner ! v " Lord, 1 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



31 



have sinned a great while ; have mercy on 
my soul !" Soon she was enabled to rejoice in 
the love of God. Then she wished to see her 
unconverted father, who was in the congregation. 
When he came, and heard her speak of the good- 
ness of the Lord, his heart was melted, and he 
fell on his knees immediately, requesting prayer 
for his own soul. Two or three others found the 
pardoning love of God that evening ; one of 
whom, about two years afterward, in Delaware 
county, died happy in God, 

On the morning of Saturday, which was the 
fifth day after the meeting commenced, it was a 
question in my mind whether it was my duty to 
remain in that place during the Sabbath with 
brother Truesdell, or go to the appointments on 
the other part of the circuit, where I was ex- 
pected. I could send a young man to them, 
who would inform them of the cause of my ab- 
sence, and assist them in their religious exercises. 
After consulting with a worthy brother in the 
ministry, who had been assisting us a few days, 
-I followed his advice, and decided to remain 
during the Sabbath at the Foster meeting-house, 
where God Avas pouring out his Spirit upon the 
people ; and I believe this course proved to be 
for the glory of God. But after my beloved 
colleague, and all the other ministers from a dis- 



32 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



tance, had departed, my mind was " in heaviness 
through manifold temptations." I feared that 
God would not continue the work. Never shall 
I forget the feelings of my heart while alone, 
alternately walking and kneeling in my cham- 
ber, in good old brother Parlee Foster's house. 
Thanks be to God ! before the evening shades 
overspread the earth I was enabled to praise 
Him for victory. 

The next day was a day of mercy. Among 
others who began to seek the Lord was a very 
amiable young married man, who, in the after- 
noon, left the gallery, and came through the 
whole congregation, to bow before the Lord. 
His elder brother, a merchant in the place, see- 
ing him thus confess his desire for religion, was 
deeply impressed with a sense of his own sinful- 
ness, and resolved to turn to the Lord. In the 
evening, while brother Truesdell was reading 
the hymn* before sermon, a young woman was 
awakened, who soon after found the Saviour. 
After the sermon on that evening new cases of 
awakening were made known, and men in middle 
life were seen kneeling as penitents before God. 

The next day, which was stormy, was never- 
theless very pleasant to me, because, as I passed 
from house to house through the storm, I found 
Q The hymn on the twentieth page of our old hymn-book. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



88 



several inquiring the way of salvation. During 
the week I was unable, through hoarseness, to 
preach a single sermon, and had but little help 
from any other minister, except the local preacher 
resident in the place : yet we had a meeting each 
afternoon and evening, and the brethren, sisters, 
and young converts bore the cross for their 
Master. We also had a prayer-meeting every 
morning, for the benefit of those whose duties 
elsewhere would not permit them to attend 
at any other time. At one of these meet- 
ings the lawyer above-mentioned came, with his 
wife, to the place of prayer, and in the course 
of the meeting arose, and with much emotion 
told us that, on the preceding evening, for the 
first time in his life, he performed the duty of 
family prayer ; " and," said he, " from ten o'clock 
till one, we had a constant shower of mercy." 
His wife was filled to overflowing with gratitude 
to God ; and though not accustomed to shout- 
ing, she could not refrain from breaking forth at 
this time in loud acclamations of praise to God, 
who had answered her prayers. " I am but an 
infant in this school," said her husband ; " I am 
just learning the language of Canaan, and my 
friends must bear with my weakness." This 
morning prayer-meeting proved, indeed, an ex- 
cellent school for the babes in Christ. 

3 



34 



PABSAGE6 IK THE LIFE 



One man, who presented himself as a subject 
of prayer again and again, but did not find mercy, 
at length began to consider that he was living in 
the willful neglect of the important duty of family 
prayer. He resolved on the performance of this 
duty, notwithstanding he had several workmen, I 
believe, boarding in his family. The effort was 
made in the name of the Lord, and he was 
" blessed in the deed." At one of our morning 
prayer-meetings a pious lady, the wife of a mer- 
chant in the place, told us that her husband had 
resolved to come to the altar with the mourners 
on the preceding evening ; but, having met with 
an accident which so injured his foot that he 
could not come to the meeting, he sent his re- 
quest that we would remember him in our pray- 
ers. This we did most willingly, and also visited 
him at his own dwelling, and were permitted to 
rejoice in the belief that he found mercy. 

The traveling, on account of mud and snow, 
was very unpleasant through most of the week. 
The village was not large, nor the vicinity very 
densely populated ; yet, in the course of eight 
days, it was thought about thirty-four found the 
invaluable pearl. One man found the Saviour's 
love on his way home from church, who had that 
evening manifested his serious desires for the first 
time. As he drew near his house, the surround- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



00 



ing hills echoed with his shouts of praise. Our 
brother Johnson, (a class-leader in the place, and 
a brother-in-law to Bishop Hamline,) in view of 
what God was doing among some of his neigh- 
bors, whose conversion he had hardly dared to 
expect, exclaimed, — 

"The day of wonders now has come, 
The year of jubilee." 

On Saturda}^ afternoon a devoted sister wit- 
nessed a good confession, as did many others on 
the same occasion ; but her unconverted hus- 
band, who was present, soon left the house. 
The next day I saw him draw near the altar and 
throw himself into the arms of our good brother 
Westfield, anxious for his prayers. On the Tues- 
day evening following he prayed in our meeting, 
and spoke to the people something like this : — 
" I little thought last Saturday, when I left this 
house in such a state of mind as I then possessed, 
that I should be seen kneeling at the altar before 
the close of the next day." 

There were more than thirty penitents at one 
time collected around the altar. It is not very 
common that more males than females come for- 
ward as mourners during a revival, yet this was 
the case during this gracious work in Hillsdale. 
The meeting continued twenty days, and we had 
new cases of individuals almost daily who mani- 



8i5 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



fested desires for religion. On the last day ten 
or eleven persons came to the altar, most of 
whom, however, had previously taken the same 
step. 

Fifty-five persons, during the meeting, pro- 
fessed to find pardon, of whom seventeen were 
men who were heads of families. Thirty-seven 
of them united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church on probation, and I pray God that I may 
meet them all in my heavenly Father's house. 
If any of those converted or reclaimed in that 
revival have since wandered from God, and if 
they should read these lines, it is my earnest 
prayer that, before they lay this little book out 
of their hands, they may fall on their knees be- 
fore God, and cry, " Lord, save, or I perish ! re- 
store unto me the joys of thy salvation !" 

The following ministers (and perhaps some 
others, whom I do not distinctly recollect) as- 
sisted brothers Hayter, Truesdell, and myself in 
this gracious revival, principally during the first 
week ; namely, W. Jewett,* T. Sparks, J. Field, 
S. L. Stillman, D. Weager, H. W. Reed,f and 

* Brother Jewett was presiding elder of the district at that 
time. 

f Brother Reed had been licensed to preach on this circuit 
about a year, I think, before this revival. His kind father 
and mother then resided about four miles west of the Foster 
meeting-house. Their son Henry was employed, in 1832, by 



OP ELBEKT OSBORN. 



a: 



H. Wetherwax. Some of the brethren and young 
converts from suiTOunding societies visited Hills- 
dale during this good revival, and labored with 
us. Among the young converts who were there, 
if I mistake not, were Jeremiah Ham and John 
Simpson. Both of them were brought to God 
during the preceding winter. This was in a re- 
vival in the eastern part of Claverack, at the 
Martin school-house. Brother Ham has been 
laboring as an itinerant minister in the New- York 
Conference since the conference of 1 836. Brother 
Simpson was admitted on probation at the same 
time, but was immediately transferred to the 
Maine Conference, where he closed his toils, and 
endured the last of his sufferings, in Alfred, May 
7th, 1843. On page 452 of the third volume 
of the bound Minutes, it is said that he had ''a 
soul that burned for the salvation of a lost world." 
" He was a man who attempted no ostentatious 
display ; but, meek and retiring, he sought only 
the honor that cometh from God. In several 
instances God honored him with gracious revi- 

the presiding elder in Berkshire county, Mass. In 1833 he 
joined the New- York Conference ; in 1835 he was transferred 
to the Illinois Conference, and has continued, I believe, to 
labor cheerfully amidst the privations of the Far West until 
the present time. Twice he has been a delegate to the Gene- 
ral Conference, and for several years he has been presiding 
elder in that part of the original Illinois Conference now 
forming the lowo Conference. 



38 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



vals, and, during much of his ministry, with the 
sanctifying influences of the Spirit upon his soul." 
He " died in peace/ 7 and " lives with his Saviour." 
May all who labored with him on earth rest with 
him in paradise, and shine in the heavenly king- 
dom " as the stars, forever and ever." 

There was another o-ood work of religion in 
the northern part of Hillsdale, in the vicinity of 
the Downing meeting-house, which took place in 
the beginning of the year 1833. In this revival 
nearly twenty persons, including several heads 
of families, were brought to Christ ; but the work 
was not as rapid as it was in the same place in 
the previous winter. The Rev. L. Pease (now 
in glory) rendered us very acceptable aid for a 
short time in this ingathering of souls, 



OF EL BEET OSBOEN. 



CHAPTER III. 

DELAWARE CIRCUIT. 

At the conference of 1833, the authorities of the 
Church believed it most for the glory of God to 
direct me to a part of the country which I had 
never yet seen. I was sent to Delaware circuit. 
It embraced the towns of Delhi, Kortright, Frank- 
lin, Meredith, Bovina, and parts of the towns of 
Harpersfield, Hamden, Davenport, Sidney, and 
Stamford ; all of it being in Delaware county, 
M. Y. After the revivals in Hillsdale circuit, 
which have been detailed, none will wonder that 
it was with feelings of sadness that I bid fare- 
well to the dear friends in that part of the vine- 
yard of the Lord : yet, believing fully in the 
utility of the itinerant plan among the ministers, 
1 did not murmur either against God or my 
brethren. My mind had been, in some measure, 
prepared for the removal by a sermon preached 
at the conference in Poughkeepsie by that emi- 
nent servant of God, Dr. Wilbur Fisk, from these 
words : — < I have learned, in whatsoever state I 
am, therewith to be content." Phil, iv, 11. ! 
with what an apostolic spirit did the holy man 
of God set before us the blessedness of the privi- 



40 



PASSAGES IS THE LIFE 



lege of laboring anywhere in the cause of our 
glorious and merciful Master ! That was the last 
sermon I ever heard from the lips of Wilbur 
Fisk, though he lived in this world of sorrow 
and toil more than five years after this before he 
took his upward flight. Often in subsequent 
years, when tempted to be disheartened by un- 
pleasant circumstances in the places where I was 
preaching the gospel, the angelic countenance of 
brother Fisk, and the words of encouragement 
which proceeded from his lips, have been brought 
to my recollection, and made the means of ena- 
bling me to say — 

" This work shall make my heart rejoice, 
And spend the remnant of my days." 

Another sermon, preached at the same con- 
ference, had also a gracious influence on my 
mind. The preacher was our venerable Bishop 
Hedding, and the text was the seventeenth verse 
of the fourth chapter of Paul's Epistle to the 
Colossians. The duty of pastoral care and at- 
tention, in order to save Christians that were 
beginning to wander, was powerfully impressed 
upon the large body of ministers who were as- 
sembled at the conference. I shall never forget 
the earnestness with which he cried aloud, st Save 
them if you can ! — save them if you can /" But 
he did not neglect to nrge us also to cut off, ac= 



OF ELBERT OSBOR^ 



41 



cording to Discipline, those who could not be 
induced to return to the path of duty. 

My removal from Hillsdale, with my family 
and furniture, to Delaware, was a somewhat te- 
dious journey, in which we crossed the Hudson 
River, climbed the noble Cat skill Mountains, and 
wound our way along the Schoharie and its 
branches, with lofty eminences crowned with 
majestic forests on either hand, till, after cross- 
ing over many other high ranges, we found our- 
selves at a little village called the Head of the 
Delaware. Here we saw the small beginning of 
that noble stream which pours itself by the city 
of Philadelphia, through the Delaware Bay, into 
the Atlantic Ocean. While riding along on this 
journey, going among strangers to preach Jesus. 
I often sung the lines ending with these words 

" My Saviour resides everywhere, 
And can in all places give answer to prayer.'' 

This was a cheering thought to me, and I went 
on trusting in the Lord. It was about ninety 
miles from my residence in Hillsdale to that part 
of Delaware circuit where my family was to re- 
side, and the whole of this journey had to be 
performed by land, and without the aid of steam. 
The kindness with which my colleague, Rev. 
Solomon Fenton, and the recording steward, 



42 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Aaron Gregory,* received me, was well calcu- 
lated to rejoice my heart in this land of stran- 
gers. There had been a glorious revival on the 
eastern part of the circuit, in Bloomville society, 
in the town of Kortright ; and there was a large 
number of probationers who needed much pa- 
ternal care. My beloved colleague, having been 
with them during the revival in the preceding 
year, was very active and successful in assisting 
me to nourish these lambs of the flock. At one 
time I resorted to the expedient of inviting the 
young converts, who had found the Lord a few 
months before, to draw near the altar at the close 
of the sermon, and bow together at the same 
place where they had, not long before, wept and 
prayed for pardon, and rejoiced in the first beams 
of the sunlight of forgiving love. 

When I went to the appointment in the cen- 
tral part of Davenport, on the north-west part 
of the circuit, I heard the voice of complaining. 
The society was in rather a low state, and some 
of them seemed disposed to find fault with the 
course of the preachers during the preceding 
winter. It was alleged that they had been so 
much taken up with the revival in Bloomville 
that Davenport had been neglected. I told them 

s This worthy man afterward removed to the Far West, 
where he died in the Lord a few year? since. 



OF EGBERT 03BQ&N. 



4^5 



that they must pray earnestly for God to revive 
his work there in such a powerful manner that 
the preachers would be constrained to omit some 
of their appointments at Bloomville in order to 
labor with them. As no information of my com- 
ing had reached the place before I went there, 
I had no congregation to address, but passed on 
to my next appointment, praying God to water 
that thirsty soil with showers of salvation. 

Soon after this my colleague proposed that 
we should have an extra meeting in Davenport, 
to commence on Tuesday, June 25th, 1833. As 
he had labored on the circuit during one year, 
and was a man of prudence, I confided much in 
his judgment, and gave my assent to the propo- 
sal. Accordingly, when he went there to preach, 
he gave notice of the intended meeting. 

On the morning of the appointed day, which 
proved to be a little rainy, I rode on horseback, 
over rough and hilly roads, twelve miles from 
my residence, in Franklin, to the place of meet- 
ing. It was a little past the hour when I ar- 
rived, but no signs of a collection of hearers were 
to be seen. When I inquired for the barn, which 
I had been told was obtained for the meeting, I 
found it was not prepared, and it was said that 
the school-house would probably accommodate 
all who came the first day. At the school-house 



44 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



I met with one person only, an exhort er,* who 
had come several miles to worship God, and la- 
bor in his cause. We kneeled down, and united 
in solemn vocal prayer for the outpouring of the 
Holy Spirit ; and then went to the house of a 
Christian friend, and invited him and his family 
to come to meeting in the afternoon. The weather 
having become fair, about twelve persons assem- 
bled in the afternoon ; and to this little company 
I preached from Psalm cxviii, 8, on the duty and 
privilege of trusting in God. My remarks were 
specially directed to the importance of depend- 
ing upon the Almighty for such weather and 
help as His infinite wisdom saw best for us on 
this occasion. Christians were also exhorted to 
trust in the Most High for divine influence to 
assist them and their ministers in laboring for 
souls during this meeting. 

In the evening there were perhaps twenty or 
twenty-five persons present ; and, if I mistake 
not, on that evening Rev. John Bangs came to 
our help. He had long been an active and bold 
soldier in the army of the Lord. He had many 

This exhorter was Obadiah W. Munger, a brother who 
was licensed to preach before I left that circuit, and labored 
faithfully as a local preacher till 1836. Then he was received 
on trial in the Xew-York Conference, and continued with us 
till the year 1842, when he joined the Rock River Conference, 
of which he is still, I believe, fin efficient member. 



OF ELBERT QSBOKN. 



,0 



spiritual children in different parts of Delaware, 
Schoharie, Otsego, and Greene counties. On 
that evening there were some tokens of good, 
and these increased during the next day ; but 
on the second evening my mind, from some cause, 
was much depressed, and I was strongly tempted 
to regret that we had appointed the meeting. 
Nevertheless, on the following morning, in com- 
pany with another minister, I visited a man whom 
I had seen at the meeting on the previous day. 
The tenderness of heart and deep seriousness 
which were manifested by this man and his wife 
encouraged me much : and I went to the barn, 
which was now prepared for our reception, to 
commence the forenoon meeting, My beloved 
colleague, and some other faithful brethren in 
the ministry, had now arrived, the congregation 
was large, indications of awakening power began 
clearly to appear, and we saw that we had not 
trosted in God in vain. The seasons which I had 
witnessed in Hillsdale, Claverack, Afford, Arc, 
rushed upon my recollection, and I began to have 
strong hopes that " I might have some fruit 
among 7 ' the people of Delaware county, "even 
as among" the inhabitants of other parts of the 
country. 

The meeting increased in interest till Saturday, 
when we gave an opportunity for the young con- 



46 



PASSAGE m tm LIFE 



verts to join our church on probation, and four- 
teen persons presented themselves for admission. 
The indications of good were so favorable that, 
we thought it our duty to make arrangements 
for the continuance of the meeting over the Sab- 
bath, especially as one or more ministers from a 
distance were able to spend the Sabbath in that 
place. My colleague and myself could not con- 
sistently neglect our appointments elsewhere on 
the circuit, nor conveniently send a substitute to 
them, so we left our brethren to go on with the 
work of their blessed Master ; but we subse- 
quently learned that God was present to help 
his servants during that holy Sabbath. On Mon- 
day additional help arrived, and the meetings 
were continued with much benefit to many souls. 
On the Saturday following I was able to visit 
them again, and spend the Sabbath with them. 
An immense congregation assembled, and in the 
evening the meeting was very powerful. In the 
mean time, our friends at Bloomville had to waive 
their privilege for one Sabbath. Thus, the loss 
of labor which the Davenport brethren had sus- 
tained during the previous winter, while the re- 
vival was in progress at Bloomville. began to be 
made up to them. 

The following brethren in the ministry labored 
with brother Fenton and myself in the course 



OF ELBEBT OSBuKX, 



47 



is meeting * — John Bangs, Harvey Brovm. 
Brownell. Cornwell, and Wm. M. Ferguson.* 
Ye: I think neither of them was able to be with 
ns more than two or three days. 

Among others, Wild professed to be subjects 
of this good work, were a man and his wife, at 
whose house it was expected that a ball would 
have been attended on the -4th of July ; but the 
change which took place in their feelings pre- 
vented this. A few months after this, revival 
measures were adopted to build a house of wor- 
ship there, in which I have since been permitted 
to preach the gospel of Christ. Many Christian 
friends, with whom I worshiped in the school- 
house, in the barn, and afterward in the church, 
in that place, I hope will meet me in the holy 
temple above. 

While traveling on the Delaware circuit. I was 
permitted to form an acquaintance with two very 
old pilgrims. One of them, by the name of Ja- 
quish, told me that he united with the Methodist 
society in Xew-York before the Revolution, when 

8 This young brother was licensed to preach by the quar- 
terly conference of that circuit but a few weeks before this 
protracted meeting. After nine years labor as an itinerant 
minister in the Xew-York Conference, he finished his course 
in 1^x2, his last appointment being at Second-street church, 
in the city of Xew-York. 



48 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



he was but a boy.* I presume, from his ac- 
count, there were not thirty Methodists on the 
continent of America when he first united with 
them ; and when I became acquainted with him 
there were more than six hundred thousand in 
the United States. The name of the other was 
Alexander Brush, a veiy pious man, who had 
formerly belonged to our Church in Comae, on 
Long Island, where he had frequently sat under 
the ministry of that son of thunder, Benjamin 
Abbott. When I have been tempted to despond- 
ency, through fear that there was more formality 
and less zeal in our Church than formerly, I have 
often been encouraged by recollecting what old 
father Brush told me of former times. He in- 
formed me that he scarcely ever heard any one 
shout the praises of God (except father Abbott) 
before he removed from Long Island to Dela- 
ware county, which was about the beginning of 
the present century. I think he added that he 
never heard a female pray in public before he 
left Long Island. I was led to believe that zeal 
and simplicity were not confined to the early days 
of Methodism. This remark should not weaken 
the confidence of any one in the accounts in 
Benj. Abbott's life ; but then, as well as now, 

* When but young he wandered from God, but at length 
returned to the fold of Christ. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



49 



there were places where Christians were not as 
zealous and active as they should be. 

During the summer I attended camp-meetings 
with my brethren at Jefferson, Broome, and Col- 
chester ; and have some reason to believe that at 
each of them God gave me one soul as a seal of 
my ministry. My attendance on these camp- 
meetings, and my labors on the circuit, (some 
parts of which were more than twenty miles dis- 
tant from my residence,) called me away from 
my family a very considerable part of the time ; 
but, as we occupied part of a house owned by a 
very kind family, who resided in the other part, 
I had reason to believe that, in case of sudden 
illness, or any other painful accident that might 
happen during my absence, every possible effort 
would be used to make them comfortable. May 
the Almighty bless all who have cared for my 
family while I have been absent on my Master's 
business ! 

The "Life of John Smith," an English Meth- 
odist minister, was published about this time at 
our Book-Room, and providentially fell into my 
hands. The very good effect which this book 
had on my mind was increased by the testimony 
of two Christians, formerly residents in England, 
whom I met with soon after reading the book. 
From personal observation, they were enabled 
4 



60 



PASSAGES US THE LIFE 



to assure me of the correctness of the portrait 
of Mr. Smith, drawn by his eminent biographer. 
One of those friends, the Rev. Jesse Carley, who 
was himself a very humble, useful minister, has 
since gone to join the band of victorious Chris- 
tian heroes in "the fields of the blessed." His 
body lies buried, with that of his pious compan- 
ion, in the beautiful burying-ground at Hunting- 
ton, Long Island. 

During the latter part of this conference year 
we had additional instances of awakening and 
conversion in Davenport Centre. In another 
neighborhood also, called East Franklin, God 
sent a refreshing shower of grace. My dear 
brother Hunger, whom I have already mentioned, 
lived not far from this place. He and his pious 
wife (now in paradise) were very willing to la- 
bor for God and for souls. We not only had 
meetings evening after evening, but, a part of 
the time, in the afternoon also. My own mind 
was deeply impressed with a sense of the ne- 
cessity of being more earnestly and constantly 
engaged in prayer than I had been for the 
awakening of the unconverted. I believe there 
were about ten or eleven who found the Sa- 
viour in this place, and I hope to meet them all 
in the kingdom of God. " There is joy in the 
presence of the etagdb of God over one sinner 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



51 



that repenteth." I will here add, that not long 
before this revival in East Franklin, we had cause 
for rejoicing on account of some conversions in 
the same part of Davenport where there had 
been a gracious work in the preceding summer. 
" Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all 
his benefits." I find, by referring to memoranda 
which I made at the time, that more than one 
hundred probationers were added to our socie- 
ties during the first three months of my confer- 
ence year on this circuit. Nevertheless, as the 
number received during the previous year was, 
I believe, about two hundred, it was not strange 
that several of them should be discontinued. In 
consequence of this, together with losses by re- 
movals, deaths, and expulsions, the net increase 
for the year was not much over one hundred. 

In the early part of May, 1834, I set out to 
attend the conference in New-Haven. My jour- 
ney across the country was rendered unpleasant 
by the snow, which fell that year very late in 
the spring. A sermon, preached during the con- 
ference by one of the bishops, impressed my mind 
deeply with the importance of pastoral visitation. 

While I was in New-Haven I took occasion to 
look at some of the books* in the extensive library 
of Yale College, and at the curiosities in its min- 
eral cabinet. Before the conference closed, the 



52 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Legislature of the State assembled in that city. 
Here I was present at a ceremony which was a 
novel one to me. It was the inauguration of the 
governor of the State, a gentleman who has 
since, I believe, gone the way of all the earth. 

" The tall, the wise, the reverend head, 
Must lie as low as ours." 

At this conference that eminent servant of the 
Lord, Charles Sherman, whom I have mentioned 
on page 96 of the First Part of my narrative, 
was transferred to the Troy Conference, and sta- 
tioned in the city of Albany. He had been only 
four years in the itinerant ministry when he re- 
ceived this appointment. As he was leaving the 
conference room, he said to me, with much ear- 
nestness, " Pray for me, brother Osbom !" Hu- 
mility was a distinguishing characteristic of that 
good and great man. From this conference I 
returned back to the same field of labor. Some 
portions of it had been set off to form other cir- 
cuits, and the name was also changed to Bloom- 
ville circuit. 

Not long after my return from conference, a 
new Methodist church, in the village of Franklin, 
was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. 
This was followed by a series of meetings, which 
were owned of God in the conversion of several 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



53 



souls. In this good work my colleague, the Rev. 
John M. Pease, (who had just been admitted on 
trial by the conference,) and myself, were assisted 
by Rev. Messrs. A. Peck, M. Marvin, W. Rounds, 
and B. W. Gorham, of the Oneida Conference, 
and Rev. David Terry, and perhaps others, of 
the New- York Conference. Brother Peck was 
a presiding elder in the Oneida Conference ; and 
with him, and some of the other brethren, I 
had formed a pleasing acquaintance within the 
last fourteen months at different camp -meetings. 
Their labors were very acceptable and useful 
among us ; and I hope that, in the great day of 
rejoicing, some souls from Franklin will rise up 
and call them blessed. 



54 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



CHAPTER IV. 

JEFFERSON CIRCUIT. 

My next field of labor was Jefferson circuit, to 
which I was- appointed at the conference held in 
Brooklyn in May, 1835. At that session Bishop 
Emory presided. I have a vivid recollection of 
the fervor with which he prayed for divine direc- 
tion at the opening of the conference. This, I 
believe, was the only time at which that eminent 
sen-ant of the Lord acted as the responsible 
president of the New- York Conference. His 
clear, discriminating mind, so well calculated to 
superintend the proceedings of a deliberative 
body, was soon called to explore, with admira- 
tion and delight, the arcana of the skies. 

John Bangs and Reuben H. Bloomer were 
appointed with me to this six-weeks' circuit. 
Brother Bloomer was a probationer of the con- 
ference ; but brother Bangs had long been blow- 
ing the gospel trumpet. Since I began to write 
this second part of my narrative, I have received 
the solemn tidings of his death. Little did I 
think, when I met him at the last conference, 
that he was so near his end. There he intro- 
duced me to that father in Israel, Abner Chase, 



OF ELBERT OSBORX, 



of the Genesee Conference, whose useful, inte- 
resting narrative, entitled " Recollections of the 
Past," I had lately perused. My high regard 
for our deceased brother leads me to ask the 
privilege of inserting a short account of him, 
written by my friend, Rev. S. D. Ferguson, and 
published in the Christian Advocate and Journal : 

"Brother Bangs was bom in Stratford, Connecticut, in 
1781, but removed with his father's family to Stamford, 
Delaware county, N. Y., when he was only eleven years old. 
He continued to reside in this county until he concluded his 
apprenticeship to the business of a blacksmith, when he made 
a tour to Canada West. He returned, however, in about three 
months ; and the following year was married, and removed 
to Kortright, in the same county, where he set up his busi- 
ness as a blacksmith, and resided over forty years. 

"From the time he started for Canada, he was more or less 
under the continual awakening influence of the Holy Spirit. 
This was the result of the affectionate exhortation of a pious 
sister, as he was leaving for Canada. He had been much ad- 
dicted to profanity, and the amusements of the ball-room ; 
but he now found no rest to his troubled spirit. His wife 
also saw herself a sinner, and they began to seek the Lord 
together by prayer. Brother Bangs says, 1 Glory to God ! he 
was not slow to hear, nor impotent to save.' 

" 'On one memorable Sabbath morning, while engaged for 
the first time in family prayer, my soul was set at perfect 
liberty, the evidence of which I have never lost.' Shortly 
after, his wife also found the Lord, to the joy of her heart, 
and continued faithful to God until called home. 

"Brother Bangs soon felt such a burning desire for the 
salvation of souls, that he visited from house to house in the 
neighborhood, and exhorted sinners to flee from the wrath 
to come. 



i 

56 PASSAGES m THE LIEE 

''He probably received license to preach in 1806, as bis 
license was signed by Rev. Elijah Woolsey, and 1806 was 
brother Woolsey's last year on that district. But he might 
almost be said to have been a preacher from the time of his 
conversion to God. 'He was clad with zeal as a cloak,' and 
his labors were arduous and unremitting. 

"After toiling in his shop during the week, (except when 
he was called to attend funerals, or the usual weekly prayer- 
meetings.) he usually rode from five to twenty miles on Sab- 
bath mornings, preaching twice and meeting classes, and 
returned at night, to resume his toils on Monday morning. 

"God blessed the labor of his hands, as well as his spiritual 
labors ; and he soon found himself in possession of a compe- 
tency for his temporal comfort, having accumulated about 
sixteen hundred dollars. But he was not entirely at ease 
with respect to his duty. He was strongly impressed to give 
himself wholly up to the work of the ministry ; and when 
satisfied that the call was from God, although his situation 
was very pleasant, and his temporal prospects flattering, he 
joyfully shook hands with temporal comforts, and the sweet 
prospects of the world, that he might 'please Him who had 
chosen him to be a soldier.' Accordingly, in 1819, he applied 
in the usual way to the Xew-York Conference ; and, together 
with G. Coles, N. Rice, Orrin Pier, and the writer, was re- 
ceived on trial as a traveling preacher. 

" While a local preacher, he was scarcely excelled in extent 
of labor by any traveling preacher, while many fell far be- 
hind him. But now that he gave himself up wholly to the 
work of the ministry, his zeal was almost unbounded, and 
he plunged into the fight with all his soul. His estimate of 
ministerial character was high. He felt that, for himself, 
holiness was indispensable ; and, walking in its pure light, 
he urged it on his brethren in the ministry, and proclaimed 
it to the Church of God as the privilege of all saints. 

" He had not enjoyed early literary advantages ; but, ' en- 
dued with power from on high,' his labors were greatly blessed 



OS ELBERT OSBORS. 



of God. Many were the seals of his apostleship in the Lord. 
During the time he traveled as an effective preacher, there 
were received into the Church, on the circuits where he trav- 
eled, by himself and his colleagues, about three thousand 
souls. He fixed his eye on every part of the great ministe- 
rial work. The sick were visited, delinquents were sought 
out, the languishing class stirred up and encouraged, divi- 
sions healed, and the dilapidated or unfinished church re- 
paired or finished through his instrumentality. Thus he 
continued for sixteen years, sacrificing ease, the comforts of 
home, property, yea, all that was dear to him of an earthly 
nature, that he might win souls. 

"So little did he receive for his labors on the different- 
circuits where he traveled, that when he became supernume- 
rary he found almost all his hard earnings used up in support 
of his family. I recollect there were some expressions of 
dissatisfaction at his receiving his dividend of the fifth col- 
lection at conference, after he became supernumerary ; but 
this was because his real circumstances were not known. 
The fact is, he laid all on the altar when he offered himself 
to travel, and all has been consumed. Brother Bangs died 
without property. For several years past he has labored 
principally for the benefit of children, gathering them to- 
gether, obtaining their signatures for the pledge prohibiting 
the use of strong drink, tobacco, &c. ; distributing books, 
papers, &c, for their benefit ; exhorting, and praying with 
and for them. Many thousands of children have taken the 
pledge, and many of them have been converted to God, by 
means of these labors. 

" To this work of faith brother Bangs fell a martyr. He 
was taken, in June last, with diarrhoea, but continued to la- 
bor on, week after week, with disease upon him, still anxious, 
as he ever w T as, to meet his appointments, until his disease, 
which, by rest and proper remedies, might have been arrest- 
ed, became chronic, and bid defiance to remedies. 

M About a week before his death, brother Pendell and my- 



58 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



self were sent for to visit him ; but he told us, in the letter 
he sent us, that for him to die was gain. As brother Pendell 
was quite indisposed in body, I hastened alone to his bed- 
side, and found hini very feeble, but trusting firmly in the 
Lord. His mind was still on his work ; and he expressed 
some desire, if it were the will of the Lord, to work a little 
more for God ; but still said, ' The will of God be done.' But 
the Master said, It is enough ; come up higher. 

44 He lingered on until Sunday, February ith, [1849,] when 
he gently fell asleep, not to awake again until the first resur- 
rection. At his request, his body was conveyed to Harpers- 
field, at the head of the Delaware, where a numerous eon- 
course of old friends and acquaintances assembled to convey 
it to its last resting-place, by the side of his former wife, after 
a sermon on 2 Tim. iv, 7, 8. 

"Brother Bangs was a man of strong views and feelings, 
of undaunted courage, of pure intentions, and of a tender, 
warm, and friendly heart. He suffered much affliction in 
the sickness and death of many of his children, and the loved 
companion of his youth ; but in all this he murmured not, 
nor complained. His latter days were cheered by the affec- 
tionate assiduities of his pious, amiable, and intelligent se- 
cond wife, who is now his bereaved widow. Two of his sons, 
and his beloved daughter, were with him to close his eyes, 
and commit him to the tomb. ' Servant of God, well done 2 

" S. D. Ferguson." 

It would have been a great trial to me to be 
appointed to the charge of this circuit with a 
minister so many years my senior as was brother 
Bangs, had I not known that it was his wish to 
be excused from this onerous responsibility, I 
believe on account of the infirmities of advanced 
years. Soon after my removal to the circuit, 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



59 



these brethren providentially met with me in the 
street, a mile or two from my residence, Here 
we conversed together, arranged our plans, and 
encouraged each other to labor faithfully, with 
all our might, to pull down the kingdom of 
darkness. 

On the Charlotte circuit, immediately adjacent 
to ours, a good brother labored, by the name of 
OlifT G. Hedstrom, now well known to many as 
the indefatigable missionary at the Bethel ship 
of the North River mission, in the city of New- 
York, where he preaches Jesus to emigrants and 
sailors from Sweden and Norway. Sweden is 
his native land, but America his birth-place by 
spiritual regeneration. The year 1835 was the 
first of his itinerant labors, and the transition was 
great from his lucrative business and religious 
privileges in the city of New- York, to the forest- 
clad hills of Delaware county. The first inter- 
view I had with him was at his own house, where 
I called on him as I was on my way to a eamp- 
meeting in Maryland, in the bounds of the Oneida 
Conference. Having heard of him and of his 
remarkable conversion, I was much pleased to 
have him appointed to a circuit adjacent to Jef- 
ferson circuit, which had now become my field 
of labor. At this interview I invited him to ac- 
company me to the camp-meeting. At first he 



60 



PASSAGES IN THE LIEE 



excused himself, as he expected that both the 
preachers and people would be strangers to him, 
although it was only a few miles from his circuit 
and residence. From my acquaintance with the 
presiding elder, Rev. Andrew Peck, and other 
preachers in that vicinity, I could assure him that 
he would soon find himself at home among them. 
Accordingly, on the next day after my arrival on 
the ground, I had the pleasure of seeing him 
there also, and very soon heard his voice in the 
prayer-meeting. It was believed that, before 
the camp-meeting closed, fifty or sixty were 
brought out of darkness into the blessed light 
of pardoning love. 

Some time hi July, brother Hedstrom held a 
meeting in a barn in the north part of Daven- 
port, about eleven miles from my residence in 
Harpersfield. I was present by his request, and 
was happy to meet my dear brethren J. Bangs 
and D. Starks there. The blessed Redeemer, 
who was once cradled in a manger, condescended 
to meet with us in much mercy in the barn, and 
several were converted to God, Among the 
converts, if I mistake not, was one who has since 
been, for several years, the pious companion of 
a preacher in the New- York Conference. 

I think it was on Monday, August 3d, that a 
messenger arrived at my house, from the friends 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



61 



residing in Charlotte ville, requesting me to go 
over and visit them, as God had begun a 
gracious work there. With joy and gratitude 
I received these tidings. My soul was truly 
thankful to learn that the fire of reformation was 
kindling in our circuit, as well as hi other places. 
Two sermons, which had recently been preached 
there, appeared to produce powerful effects. 
One was from brother Hedstrom, and the other 
from Rev. Calvin Hawley, of the Westford cir- 
cuit, in the Oneida Conference. Brother Hawley 
had preached there on the day previous to the 
coming of the brother who was sent for me, and he 
had the pleasure of seeing several persons mani- 
fest a desire to flee the wrath to come. His 
duties on his own circuit compelled him to leave 
them, however, the next day, and of course I did 
not see him at that time, although I went with 
the messenger " without gainsaying as soon as I 
was sent for." That week was a season of great 
mercy to the people of Charlotte ville. We had 
some ministerial help from abroad ; and though 
it was a very busy season with the people in that 
place, who were mostly farmers, yet, evening 
after evening, they collected in the church to 
hear the word of the Lord. The pious wife re- 
joiced with her repenting husband ; and the 
Christian who had for seventeen years been pray- 



62 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



ing for his father, saw that father bowing at the 
mourners' bench, a place which he had once de- 
spised. The minister of the gospel, in one in- 
stance, was called up from his bed at night to 
pray with the mourner. The servants of the 
Lord warned the people " publicly, and from 
house to house." It was thought that, in the 
course of one week, about twenty persons in that 
neighborhood found peace in believing. How 
many more turned to the Lord after that, I do 
not, at this distance of time, recollect, nor have 
I now any means of ascertaming; neither do I 
know how many of the converts in that revival 
have gone before to the heavenly city, nor how 
many of them may have gone away from the 
Saviour. If there be any of the latter class now 
living, I pray that He who looked upon back- 
slidden Peter may look them into deep contrition 
of spirit. Joseph Hart well, William S. Stilwell, 
and Nathan T. Shaler were then exhorters in 
that vicinity. The first is now laboring as a min- 
ister in Utica, N. Y. ; the second is engaged in 
the same blessed work in Great Barrington, 
Mass. ; and the third has been for some time, I 
believe, proclaiming Jesus to the Red Men of the 
West, far beyond the Mississippi.* 

° Ezra S. Cook was licensed to exhort during this year, 
and Charles Gorse Boon afterward, I beUeve. They both re- 



OF ELBEKT OSBOKN. 



68 



Four weeks after I went to Charlotteville, to 
render my feeble help there, my dear brethren 
Bangs and Bloomer commenced a protracted 
meeting in a place called Summit Four Corners, 
about five miles from Charlotteville. This was 
according to previous arrangement between them 
and me. 

I was absent in the city of Albany for a few 
days, visiting some dear friends, and the Troy 
Conference, then in session at that place. On 
that occasion I saw, for the last time, my dear 
friend Arnold Scholefield, whom I have fre- 
quently mentioned, and Bishop Emory, who pre- 
sided in the conference with mingled kindness 
and dignity. Both of these ambassadors of 
Christ were called away suddenly to their re- 
ward not very long after I saw them in Albany. 

I came directly from that city to Summit, to 
meet my colleagues at the protracted meeting. 
Their first meeting was held in the school-house, 
in the evening;, as there was then no church in 
the place. Next day they met in the grove near 
by, according to previous appointment, where 
seats had been prepared. Two sermons had 
been preached on that day before I reached the 

sided in this circuit at that time, and both of them have 
since labored several years as itinerant ministers in the New- 
York Conference. 



64 



PASSAGES IS THE LIFE 



place, the second one by Rev. D. Starks. Bro- 
ther Bangs was following that sermon with an 
exhortation when I drew near the grove. I 
looked down, from a little eminence in the road, 
upon the small company of worshipers, assem- 
bled in the open air. though the weather was 
uncomfortably cool and windy. As I beheld 
them in this situation, and our aged brother 
Bangs, with head uncovered, addressing them 
from a temporary stand, (perhaps it was a wag- 
on,) I was strongly tempted to look upon our 
enterprise as unwise and visionary ; but when I 
reached the little company. I soon perceived that 
there were some warm hearts among them, al- 
though the air was so uncomfortable. In the 
evening we met in the school-house, (as we had 
no tent in the forest.) and, to our joy, three or 
four young persons presented themselves as sub- 
jects of our intercessions. Next day we were 
very thankful to see brother C. Hawley with us. 
The reader will remember that his labors had 
been abundantly blessed in the commencement 
of the good work at C harlot teville. Some of 
the young converts from that place were with us 
at this meeting, and they rejoiced with us to see 
our brother once more. A sermon which lie 
preached in the grove, from John xh, 35, pro- 
duced a very gracious effect. On the next dav 



01? ELBEitT 0SB0KN. 65 

(Thursday) another dear brother, who had also 
been with us at Charlotte ville, came to our help. 
This was brother Hedstrom. Our meeting on 
Thursday evening was held in the grove, as the 
weather had become mild, and the people ap- 
peared disposed to keep good order ; and, on the 
same evening, another meeting was held in a 
school-house two or three miles distant, which I 
attended. Both of these meetings were honored 
with displays of divine mercy and power, but 
especially the meeting in the grove. Two men, 
who had been resting on the vain hope that all 
mankind would be unconditionally saved, came 
humbly before the Lord as penitent seekers of 
salvation. The number of mourners increased, 
and several conversions took place that evening. 
On Friday and Saturday we worshiped in the 
grove morning, afternoon, and evening. On Sat- 
urday evening, though our brethren in the min- 
istry from a distance had returned to their work, 
yet the Lord remained with us, and new cases 
of awakening and conversion gladdened our 
hearts. If I rightly remember, arrangements 
were made so as to have brothers Bangs and 
Bloomer with us on the Sabbath. I believe one 
or more of the local preachers consented to fill 
at least a part of our appointments in the other 
part of the circuit. We also had assistance from 
5 



66 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



four or five local preachers, who were present 
more or less during the meeting. On that blessed 
Sabbath more than fifty persons, of whom several 
were heads of families, came to the mourners* 
benches ; and twelve or fourteen, in the course 
of the day, professed to find peace with God 
through our Lord Jesus Christ. The whole num- 
ber of converts during the meeting was supposed 
to be near, if not quite forty ; and the work con- 
tinued to go on after the meeting in the grove 
was brought to a close. 

A quarterly meeting, held by our presiding 
elder, Rev. N". White, about five miles from Sum- 
mit Four Corners, on the following Sabbath, was 
a season of refreshing from the presence of the 
Lord. Several professed to find the favor of 
King Jesus, and many went away mourning on 
account of their sins. 

Among the numerous conversions which took 
place in the revival at Summit, that I have been 
describing, there were two which I will more 
particularly notice. One of these was a man, of 
very good standing in society, who had looked 
upon the ministers of the gospel with a good 
deal of contempt, especially when they went 
from house to house, warning the people to flee 
from the wrath to come. This contempt he ex- 
pressed to a minister once, at least, in strong 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



67 



terms. But the truth of God reached his heart ; 
and on a certain evening, when the invitation was 
given for awakened sinners to come forward and 
kneel before the Lord, he came with trembling, 
and though he was dressed in very good apparel, 
he was about to kneel down on the bare earth. 
Some friend said to him, " Here we have spread 
straw, on which you can kneel." " Any place is 
good enough for me," said the humbled sinner ; 
and he soon found the promise verified : — " He 
that humbleth himself shall be exalted." 

Another of the converts was a man who had 
a pious wife, and they had recently been called 
to bury a beloved infant child. At the protracted 
meeting he appeared very serious, and was per- 
sonally invited to come out from the world and 
decidedly choose the Lord for his portion ; but 
he declined. He was then urged to commence 
praying in secret on that very day. The next 
time that I met him the inquiry was made of 
him, "Have you prayed in secret since I con- 
versed with you ?" He replied in the negative, 
and I expostulated with him for his neglect. On 
the Sabbath which I have mentioned as a day 
of God's great mercy and power, manifested in 
the grove, he took up his cross, and was one of 
the large number that came forward to seek the 
Lord ; but he left the place mourning. In the 



6b 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



evening lie went to a religions meeting again, 
but returned sorrowful. After his return home 
his wife said, "Shall we have prayers ?" He 
replied, " You may pray I" and she did so. He 
followed in vocal prayer: and about midnight, 
while they were calling upon God, he shed abroad 
his love in the poor mourner's heart. On Tues- 
day following I went into the neighborhood, and 
heard the good news that the dead was alive, 
and the lost was found. I rode up to his door, 
and meeting his wife, congratulated her upon 
the good work which had lately been wrought 
by God in the heart of her husband, and also of 
her father. Her joy was full. When I inquired 
for her companion, she pointed to a house near 
by, from whence I saw him coming with hasty 
steps. As he drew near, he exclaimed, with 
great emotion, extending his arms, " I am com- 
ing, and I am going to heaven with you !" Tears 
of joy ran from his eyes, and from mine, while I 
sat upon my horse and listened to the language 
of this babe in Christ. " Now," said he, " I am 
willing to converse with you on the subject of 
religion ; but once I wished to avoid all conver- 
sation of that kind." How blessed the hope, 
which he could now cherish, of meeting the spirit 
of his deceased infant child in the regions of 
immortal blessedness. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



69 



I think that it was in the course of this revi- 
val that a minister visited B. G., a man of prop- 
erty and influence in the town. He was much 
affected with a sense of his lost condition, but 
neglected to seek the Lord with all his heart. 
A year or two afterwards another faithful min- 
ister, who was laboring in that circuit, visited 
him. The Spirit of truth moved upon the heart 
of Mr. G. He began to declare his iniquity, and 
to be truly sorry for his sin. He saw that he 
had been very ungrateful to God, who had sent 
his Spirit and his messengers to lead him to 
Christ. " That man of God, * * * * said 
he, " came to see me, and prayed with me ; and 
while he was praying for me he dropped a tear 
there" pointing to the very spot where it had 
fallen, a year or more before this conversation. 
But though he had been stubborn and rebellious, 
yet now he was willing to submit to God ; and 
seeking salvation in the Lord's way, he did not 
seek in vain. Since that gracious revival took 
place, a Methodist church has been erected there ; 
and my prayer is, that God may always have a 
holy and happy people in that place. 

Very soon after our blessed meeting in the 
grove at Summit, we held a protracted meeting 
in the Methodist church in the south part of 
Jefferson, Schoharie county, N. Y. This church 



70 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



(in contradistinction from one more recently built 
in the north part of the town) was called the 
" old church^ Both of my colleagues attended, 
together with some local preachers in the vicinity. 
We also received some assistance from Rev. 
Messrs. K White, D. Starks, G. Horton, 0. G. 
Hedstrom, S. M. Knapp, and A. Bronson ; all 
of whom, except brother White, our beloved 
presiding elder, were laboring on circuits adja- 
cent to the Jefferson circuit. In this neighbor- 
hood I found some persons who were the lineal 
descendants of the brother or sister of that holy, 
humble, zealous man of God, David Brainard. 
Some of them had long been pious Christians, 
and I believe others of them were brought to 
God in this revival. 

The whole number of converts in this work I 
judged to be about twenty. One of them was 
a man who had said that his horse-shed, which 
stood near the church, was free for the horse of 
any minister except one, — that was John Bangs ; 
but so changed did his feelings become, that he 
cheerfully welcomed that ambassador of Jesus 
to his hospitality. Another of the converts was 
a man about seventy-five years of age, whose 
pious companion and children had long mourned 
over his neglect of Christ, and his almost total 
inattention to the means of grace. Though fa- 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



71 



vored with very good health, and living near the 
church, he was scarcely ever seen there, except 
on a funeral occasion. Never shall I forget the 
expressive look of his son, the recording steward 
of the circuit, when, in a prayer-meeting held in 
the early part of the protracted meeting, he fixed 
his tearful eye upon me, and said, " 0, brother 
Osborn, pray for my dear father !" Equally vivid 
is my recollection of the pathetic, solemn man- 
ner in which one of our ministers addressed the 
old gentleman in conversation at his own house. 
Great was our joy, shortly after this, to see him, 
with locks white as the snows of winter, enter 
the sanctuary of the Lord. Still greater was 
our joy when he rose up, with other awakened 
sinners, to let us know that he wished us to pray 
for him ; but after this, when he rose from his 
knees and shouted the praises of God, who. for 
Christ's sake, had pardoned his numerous sins, 
our joy and gratitude were unspeakable. This 
affecting scene took place almost on the same 
spot where, but a few days before, his pious son 
had uttered the affecting request which I have 
already mentioned. After this the good old man 
was ready to walk several miles, in the depth of 
winter, to meet with the people of God. Even 
his Christian relatives, who had long mourned 
because he had no disposition to go to the house 



72 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of prayer, now almost thought that he was going 
beyond his strength, in his eagerness to visit the 
place of worship. In subsequent years, when 
far from the lovely vale in which the happy old 
man resided, I have often inquired concerning 
his religious state, of persons from that vicinity 
who were providentially thrown in my way ; and 
as often have I been rejoiced to learn that he 
was pressing on toward the holy temple above, 

There is a neighborhood in the eastern part 
of Summit known by the name of Dutch Hill, 
many of the inhabitants being descendants of 
emigrants from Germany and Holland, and the 
language of their fathers was still used to some 
extent in their common conversation. At this 
place a quarterly meeting had been held in the 
early part of the summer of 1835. The presid- 
ing elder had just commenced his labors on the 
district, having been appointed, for the first time, 
to this responsible station at the conference but 
a few weeks previous. Some peculiar circum- 
stances connected with his appointment, caused 
him to feel much depressed in spirit. Yet he 
labored faithfully and usefully among us at the 
quarterly meeting ; and some expressions which 
he used in prayer were made a blessing to me, 
and produced a lasting impression on my mind. 

November 17th, at ten o'clock A. M„ accord- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



78 



ing to previous appointment, we commenced a 
series of meetings at the Methodist church on 
Dutch Hill. Thirteen persons composed the 
whole of the congregation, to whom I endea- 
vored to preach from the question proposed by 
God to Abraham, as recorded Genesis xviii, 14 : 
" Is anything too hard for the Lord ?" The om- 
nipotence of God was presented as the ground 
of encouragement to Christians to labor in faith 
and hope for the salvation of the unconverted. 
No other minister but myself was present when 
we commenced our meeting ; but in the course 
of the day and evening three other ministers ar- 
rived. In the evening a few females came to the 
altar for prayers, and some of them were enabled 
to believe unto the saving of the soul. Every 
day during the week some professed to find the 
blessing of pardon, although the congregation 
was not large till Saturday evening. On that 
evening the number of mourners was quite large, 
and more of them were males than females. 
On the Sabbath the house was very full ; and 
when a request was made that all who thought 
they had received pardon within a week should 
take seats together in a particular part of the 
church, thirty-seven persons took the seats desig- 
nated. On the same day thirty-eight persons 
offered themselves as probationers to our church. 



74 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Next week, though the weather was stormy 
and cold, the work went on till the number of 
probationers amounted to fifty-five, including a 
few who resided within the bounds of adjacent 
classes. H. Brown, R. Kelley, D. Starks, 0. G. 

Hedstrom, Robison, H. Tredwell, and A. 

Bronson, kindly co-operated with my colleagues 
(Bangs and Bloomer) and myself in striving to 
promote this revival. Should this sketch fall 
into the hands of any one who obtained mercy 
in that revival, and has since departed from the 
good way, may this record of the names of my 
brethren who there declared the counsel of God, 
prove the means of calling that wandering soul 
back to God. 

A sermon, preached during the meeting by 
Harvey Brown, and an exhortation from brother 
Hedstrom, which followed it, had a melting in- 
fluence on many hearts. Brother H. came in, I 
think, just after brother B. had commenced the 
service. The sermon was impressive, and bro- 
ther H. was evidently much affected. He was 
unknown, I presume, at that time to most of the 
congregation. By my request he ascended the 
pulpit, and, with deep emotion depicted in his 
countenance, began to exhort : — " I have been 
thinking," said he, "that if such a sermon as we 
have just heard could be preached to my coun- 



OF ELBERT OSBORK. 



75 



toymen on the rocky shores of Sweden, what 
multitudes would turn to the Lord !" The foreign 
accent of the stranger, and the deep feeling mani- 
fest in the intonations of his voice, instantly at- 
tracted the attention of the whole congregation ; 
and scarcely had he uttered the short sentence 
which I have just quoted, before it seemed that 
nearly every one in the house was melted into 
tears. 

It is good to " remember the years of the right 
hand of the Most High;' 7 but how solemn the 
thought, that many of those who wept under 
that sermon and exhortation have probably since 
that gone to the world of spirits, and possibly 
some of them continued to resist the Holy Spirit 
till they went down to the world of woe to weep 
unavailing tears, where hope can never come. 

On the 12th and 13th of December, 1835, a 
quarterly meeting was held in the lower part of 
Davenport, in Mr. Hedstrom's circuit. It was 
held in a building which had been occupied in 
the business of tanning and currying leather. 
Of course it was not a very pleasant place for a 
large worshiping assembly. But I suppose that 
it was the best that could then be obtained in 
the neighborhood ; and Mr. White, the presiding 
elder, as well as Mr. Hedstrom, doubtless felt 
that they were successors of the pioneers of 



76 



PASSAC4ES IN THE LIFE 



Methodism, who worshiped and labored in a 
sail-loft before a Methodist church was built in 
America. God helped his servants ; solemnity 
seemed to rest on the congregation ; but none 
of them seemed willing to make known his se- 
rious desires by any overt act. With many tears 
and prayers, arrangements were made to hold a 
protracted meeting, commencing on the twenty- 
fourth of the same month. The weather and 
traveling were both unfavorable ; but the Lord 
sent some of his ministers to labor with Mr. H. 
On Sabbath, the 27th, although there had been 
indications of good, yet there seemed to be a 
cloud over the prospects of the meeting for a 
season ; but at length faith and prayer prevailed, 
and the good work went on graciously. On 
Tuesday I was obliged to leave them ; but other 
ministers came to labor with them, and the peo- 
ple assembled each day and evening through 
that week, and several evenings of the following 
week. About forty persons were thought to be 
brought to Christ through the instrumentality of 
that protracted meeting. On the last day, though 
it was stormy, so as to prevent a full attendance 
of the converts, yet eighteen joined society. 

In the course of that winter I was permitted 
to attend protracted meetings with other minis- 
ters, at Byrneville and Jefferson New Church, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



77 



within our own circuit; and also at Hobart, in 
brother Starks' charge; and Prattsville, where 
my former colleague, J. M. Pease, was laboring. 
At all of these meetings some professed to find 
the Lord, although the depth of snow and the 
severity of the cold during that winter rendered 
it quite unpleasant for many to attend. In a 
few instances I preached at five o'clock in the 
morning ; and some of those meetings, held be- 
fore the break of day on cold winter mornings, 
are remembered by me with gratitude, as seasons 
of peculiar blessedness to my soul. When the 
time arrived for the commencement of our meet- 
ing at Byrneville, I was at the house of our 
brother w r hom I have mentioned on a preceding 
page as having said, when about to kneel as a 
penitent before the Lord, "Any place is good 
enough for me." Such a severe snow-storm 
came on that I was obliged to remain with him 
two nights and the intervening day, and in that 
time the snow fell to a depth that was rarely 
known even in that mountainous country. As 
soon as the storm subsided, I prepared to go to 
Byrneville. During that preparation a man rode 
up to the door on horseback with a message from 
my respected colleague, J. Bangs, for me to come 
to Byrneville. This man was the same person 
whom I have before mentioned as having said to 



78 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



me, with uplifted hands, as he met me in the 
street a day or two after his conversion, " I am 
going to heaven with you." He, with other 
friends, volunteered to go before, on horseback, 
to break a path for me to go through with my 
sleigh. He remarked that I had helped him 
through last autumn when he was in trouble on 
account of his sin, and now he would gladly help 
me through the deep snow. Thus he expressed 
his gratitude to the unworthy instrument whom 
God had used to assist in leading him to Christ. 

The depth of snow was uncommon that win- 
ter ; so much so, that I found it necessary some- 
times to travel twenty-four miles by a circuitous 
route around the hills to reach an appointment 
which was not more than twelve miles distant 
by the usual route. In one case, when I met a 
man with two horses and a lumber- sled, the snow 
was so very deep on either side of the path that 
neither of us dared to give half the road, lest the 
horse should get swamped in the snow. We 
concluded to resort to this expedient. Taking 
the loose boards from his sled, and laying them 
down by the side of the path on the snow, we 
formed a temporary floor. Then, taking my 
horse froni the sleigh, we led him carefully on 
this floor, where we kept him standing till my 
sleigh could be removed by hand out of the 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



79 



path, and thus an opportunity was given for my 
friend to pass by with his team. Then the horse 
and sleigh were brought back into the path and 
again fastened together, the boards were replaced 
on the lumber-sled, and we went on our way re- 
joicing, having cause to be thankful to the Al- 
mighty " Preserver of men." 

The conference year did not pass without some 
severe trials, resulting from difficulties between 
a few brethren who stood high in the confidence 
of many, and who appeared to manifest friend- 
ship for me to the last. How painful are such 
things, whenever they occur ! 

There were also a few cases of transgression, 
which made it necessary to execute the disci- 
pline of the Church ; but we had cause to be 
very grateful to our Heavenly Father that many 
more were added to the Church than were lost 
by removals, <fcc. Not only in the places which 
I have mentioned, but in other parts of the cir- 
cuit, there were some manifestations of divine 
mercy. Harpersfield, where I resided, surround- 
ed by kind friends and neighbors, was not en- 
tirely forgotten by our prayer-hearing God ; as 
some in that place, during the year, were enabled 
to sing the new song. On this circuit, many of 
the brethren and sisters were efficient helpers in 
the work of the Lord. By reference to a letter 



80 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of mine, dated February 15th, 1836, I find that, 
in less than nine months previous to that time, 
more than two hundred had been received on 
probation in the different societies of the Jefferson 
circuit. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



81 



CHAPTER V. 

WINDHAM CIRCUIT. 

For some time previous to the session of our 
conference in 1836, I had frequently thought 
that perhaps it would be more for the glory of 
God and the good of souls if ministers were more 
frequently removed to a new field of labor at the 
end of one year, instead of continuing two years 
in the same place. Seeing the good effects of 
an itinerant ministry in our Church, I was led to 
inquire whether the benefit might not be increased 
if the changes occurred more frequently, as I 
believed they did in the earlier days of American 
Methodism. At length I came to the resolution 
that I would ask my presiding elder to use his 
influence to effect my removal to another part 
of the vineyard of the Lord at the end of one 
year's labor on Jefferson circuit. I did not ask 
for an easier, richer, or more pleasant place, but 
simply to be removed. In this matter I was not 
at all influenced by the idea that there would be 
any dearth of subjects for sermons. I was given 
to understand that the brethren on the circuit 
would be glad to have me remain with them, 
and I had always been re-appointed to the same 
6 



82 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



circuit the second year from the time I joined 
the conference till this time. But my views of 
duty led me to persist in this request. 

Accordingly, my appointment was made to 
Windham circuit, which included Windham, 
Hunter, and Lexington. My colleague was bro- 
ther Goodrich Horton, who was, at this confer- 
ence, received on trial as a traveling minister. 
A journey of twenty-five miles brought me to 
my new residence in the town of Windham, in 
Greene county, a few miles west of the summit 
of the Catskill Mountains. Here, too, as well as 
in Harpersfield and Jefferson, I found some of 
the descendants of David Brainerd's relatives, 
who were striving to serve the God whom he 
served ; and one of them had recently gone to 
join the sainted spirit of the missionary in that 
world where there is neither sorrow nor sin. 

Soon after my removal to Windham, I attend- 
ed my first appointment in a place called East 
Kill, a few miles west of the celebrated " Moun- 
tain House, " which is so often pointed out to 
travelers as they pass up the majestic Hudson. 
East Kill was a secluded neighborhood among 
lofty hills, covered with vast forests, where a 
little band* of Christians had for nine years been 

5 The whole number in the society was but twenty-three 
Of these, seven were males and sixteen were females. There 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



83 



praying for a revival. Three years before this 
they had built a small, but commodious house 
of worship ; for though it was comparatively a 
new settlement, and several of the inhabitants 
were dwelling in log-houses, yet they were in- 
dustrious, frugal, and felt willing to unite their 
efforts in erecting a building where they and 
then children might assemble to worship the 
Lord. Doubtless, while the sound of the ax and 
the saw was heard on that building, the pray- 
ers of God's people went up to heaven that souls 
might be converted in that house. One man 
from an adjacent neighborhood had been awa- 
kened there about eighteen months after it was 
built. With that exception, none, I believe, had 
foimd the Lord in that house for three years after 
it was built ; yet the people of God continued to 
call on Him for a shower of mercy. 

At length a very sudden death occurred in 
the neighborhood. A young man was taken 
away after an illness of about forty hours. His 
friends believed that, during his short sickness, 
he obtained the witness of his acceptance with 
God. Just before his death he called his foster- 
father to his bed-side, took him by the hand, and 
insisted on a promise that he would strive to 

was no other house of worship in the place but the one occu- 
pied by the Methodists. 



84 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



serve the Lord. A few weeks after, while on 
my way to this appointment for the first time, I 
providentially fell in with a young man going to 
the same place. Weariness of body produced a 
depression of my feelings rather disinclhiing me 
to conversation; but I took up the cross, and 
exhorted the young man to seek the Lord. I 
was blessed in this duty, and felt encouraged to 
preach the gospel to sinners that afternoon. At 
the close of the sermon impenitent sinners, who 
had pious husbands or wives, were urged to re- 
pent ; and the inquiry was addressed to profes- 
sors, whose companions were not pious, whether 
they had done all they could do for the salvation 
of their unconverted friends. In the class-meet- 
ing, which immediately followed the sermon, a 
pious woman, with tears flowing from her eyes, 
expressed her deep desire for the salvation of her 
husband. 

It was suggested to me that a protracted meet- 
ing would be desirable after the season of gath- 
ering the hay and harvest had passed. The pro- 
posal pleased me, but I did not think it best 
wholly to delay personal effort till that time. 
Accordingly, on the next morning, I went from 
house to house making inquiry concerning the 
state of the souls of the people. The serious, 
candid answers which I received, together with 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



85 



some indications which I had seen on the day 
previous, led me to think that this people were 
ripe for a revival. It appeared to me that God, 
by his providences, and by his blessing upon the 
word preached by my predecessors, had been 
preparing the way for a harvest of souls in this 
place. With these views, I felt unwilling to de- 
lay my next visit to them till my regular appoint- 
ment in four weeks from that time ; therefore we 
decided to have a prayer- meeting at a private 
house on the next Friday evening. In the course 
of that prayer-meeting I thought there might be 
some one present who was under awakenings. 
The opportunity was given for the manifestation 
of this, and five or six arose almost immediately. 
This encouraged me to engage to come there on 
the following Sabbath evening, after preaching 
two sermons at a considerable distance from the 
place. On that occasion about fifteen persons 
came forward to ask the prayers of God's peo- 
ple. One of them was the husband of the wo- 
man who had expressed such strong desires for 
his salvation on the preceding Sabbath. She 
had urged him to go to the house of prayer that 
evening ; and, as he left home to go there, she 
said, U I hope you will begin to pray to-night." 
She remained at home, praying, with agonizing 
desire, for his soul's welfare. He returned with 



86 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



a sorrowful heart, and next morning went to the 
grove again and again, begging for mercy, till 
nearly noon, when Jesus met him in compas- 
sion, and imparted peace to his soul. JN"ow 
the praying woman could rejoice in the mercy 
of God to her companion ; but her father and 
three brothers were still out of the ark of safety, 
and exposed to the destruction which awaits the 
wicked. She and her pious mother interceded 
with God for them. In the course of one week 
her three brothers set out to serve God, and 
anxiously besought their aged father to give his 
heart to Him. The same evening on which this 
request was urged upon him he was powerfully 
affected by the Spirit of God, so that the feel- 
ings of his mind overpowered his bodily strength ; 
but Jesus blessed his soul. His own house, where 
this scene transpired, was a Bethel indeed to him 
and his family, as none but they, I believe, were 
present that evening. My colleague spent some 
days in the vicinity, visiting from house to house, 
and going into the hay -fields and through the 
woods to find men who were employed in their 
temporal labor, and converse with them about 
their souls' salvation. The business of the sea- 
son was very urgent; yet, whenever a prayer- 
meeting was appointed, it was well attended. 
Just at the beginning of the work, the sudden 



0E ELBERT OSBORN. 



87 



death, by drowning, of a young man who had 
formerly worked in the neighborhood, was made 
an occasion of solemn admonition to the youth, 
which appeared to have a good effect. The 
good woman whose desires and prayers for her 
husband's conversion have already been men- 
tioned, was soon permitted to praise God for the 
conversion of a brother-in-law, a sister, and a 
sister-in-law, in addition to those relatives that 
have already been named. The man who had 
promised his dying adopted son, before the revi- 
val commenced, that he would try to lead a new 
life, and who had been under awakening from 
that time, found peace in believing. One young 
woman cried aloud for mercy in family prayer, 
and continued weeping till reminded that tem- 
poral duty imperiously called her away. She 
went, sighing and sobbing, on the way to the 
school which she was teaching, and was con- 
strained by her feelings to dismiss her school ; 
but found the Saviour's love in the course of the 
day. The joyful exclamations from the lips of 
young converts, proclaiming that they had found 
the Lord, caused the hearts of the saints to be 
glad. 

A little boy, when converted, went to a neigh- 
bor, whom he had treated with disrespect, and 
asked his forgiveness. The young man with 



88 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



whom I had conversed on the road when first 
going to East Kill, was one of the happy sub- 
jects of the work. Several pious women re- 
joiced over the conversion of their companions. 
The house of worship was the spiritual birth- 
place of many souls. The personal visits and 
conversation of Christians and young converts 
were the means, of much good to their uncon- 
verted relatives and neighbors. 

I well remember leaving my horse at the house 
of a friend one day, and walking through a part 
of the neighborhood, pointing sinners to Christ. 
I came at length to the house of a man whose 
sons were at work in the field about a mile dis- 
tant. I went on through the woods, and found 
them busy with their hay. Taking a rake in my 
hand, I spent a little time in the field working 
with them, intermingling religious conversation 
as I had opportunity. When night came I re- 
turned with them to the house, encouraging them 
to seek the Lord. About a week afterward I 
visited the place, and saw three of those young 
men joyfully engaged in the service of God. 

In the course of three weeks from the com- 
mencement of this work, about twenty-six thought 
they found peace in believing ; and before the 
revival wholly subsided, the number was increased 
to fifty, including a few who resided in adjacent 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



89 



n "ghborhoods. The awakening and conversion 
of those who came from other places to attend 
the meetings in this revival, appeared to be the 
means of spreading the name. The number who 
united with us on probation in the East Kill so- 
ciety before the close of the conference year was 
forty-eight, being more than twice the whole 
number of members which we found there when 
the year commenced. 

Soon after the revival of religion which I have 
just described, a quarterly meeting was held by 
brother 1ST. White, our presiding elder, in the 
Methodist church in the western part of the town 
of Hunter. This was a few miles from East Kill, 
where God had lately accomplished a gracious 
work, and both places were included in the "Wind- 
ham circuit. Several of the young converts from 
East Kill came to our quarterly meeting. The 
altar was surrounded by candidates for the ordi- 
nance of baptism, among whom were the aged 
convert just brought into the fold of Christ, and 
several of his children and grand-children, who 
had also lately found peace in believing. This 
meeting was a very good one, and no doubt pre- 
pared the way for the revival which began a few 
weeks afterward in that place. 

In the mean time I was permitted to attend 
two good camp-meetings in our district. One of 



90 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



them was held in Jefferson, and commenced Sept. 
5, 1836 ; and the other was held during the fol- 
lowing week in Greenville, in the Coeyman's* 
circuit. At the latter I met with some of the 
relatives and connections of Hezekiah Calvin 
Wooster,f a holy man of God, whose labors in 
Canada had been very successful. Both of these 
camp -meetings were honored with the conversion 
of several souls. At the close of each of them 
our presiding elder, with tears of paternal affec- 
tion, addressed the ministers present in a most 
pathetic manner. Those addresses made a pow- 
erful, and, I hope, lasting and beneficial impres- 
sion upon my mind. 

The minutes of the last conferences had shown 
us, that notwithstanding some of us had seen 

* Pronounced Queemans. 

f For some interesting particulars concerning this remark- 
able servant of the Most High, the reader is referred to Dr. 
Bangs' History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, vol. ii, 
pp. 72, 83. Also to a very " Brief Memoir of H. C. Wooster," 
written by myself, published at the Methodist Book-Room, 
and for sale with the Sunday-School publications. While 
residing in Windham I obtained access to his papers, and to 
several letters written to him by his fellow-laborers, among 
whom were Michael Coate and Shadrach Bostwick. This led 
me to write a short account of his useful labors and triumph- 
ant death. The above-mentioned camp-meeting was held not 
far distant from the grave-yard where the remains of Woos- 
ter lie, (I think without a stone to mark the spot,) awaiting 
the sound of the last trumpet. 



OF ELBERT OSBOBN. 



91 



very considerable accessions to our Church, yet, 
in the aggregate, the Methodist Episcopal Church 
had suffered a decrease, diiring the preceding 
year, of eighteen hundred and fifty-seven mem- 
bers. Of this decrease our own conference shared 
more than its proportion, the number lost amount- 
ing to four hundred and twentv- eight. Some 
serious searchings of heart were produced by 
these facts, accompanied by earnest resolutions 
to be more diligent, together with fervent pray- 
ers for Divine help.* 

On the 20th of September (not having the 
fear of equinoctial storms before our eyes) we 
commenced a protracted meeting in West Hunter. 
As usual, the congregation was small at first : 
but the brethren were exhorted to " trust in the 
Lord and do good," and they appeared ardently 
desirous that God would make them holy, and 
bring their unconverted neighbors to the enjoy- 
ment of true religion. Among these praying 
brethren were two local preachers, residing in 
the place, whose names were Charles Chase and 
Justus Artman. The former lived near the church, 

s I will just mention here that the returns of the next 
year showed a net increase of one thousand eight hundred 
and fifty-four in the Xew-York Conference alone, and the net 
increase in the whole connection was ten thousand one hun- 
dred and three ! Our God answers the prayer of persevering 
faith. 



92 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



in a comfortable habitation, where, with his kind 
and pious family, he welcomed the servants of 
the Lord to his hospitality. But he has gone 
from earth, and I hope now rests with his spirit- 
ual father, the Rev. John Bangs, and some of 
his own family, in the mansions of bliss. 

Some of the Christians, who attended the meet- 
ing with flowing tears, told us of then- deep anx- 
iety that God woid^revive his work. The con- 
gregation increased daily ; and several ministers, 
whom we had invited, came to labor with brother 
Horton and myself for a few days. At one time 
I believe there were ten ministers sitting together 
at brother Chase's table. Among these, I remem- 
ber, were R. H. Bloomer, (my former colleague,) 
William F. Collins, Elijah Crawford, John Craw- 
ford, (now of the Oneida Conference,) William 
C. Hoyt, John B. Merwin, and 0. W. Munger. 
The labors of all these brethren were useful to 
the people. Two other brethren were also pre- 
sent, who gave additional interest to the meetings 
by narrating publicly some of the circumstances 
of their awakening, conversion, and religious ex- 
perience. One of these ministers was David 
Webster, who was then preaching Jesus to the 
congregations included in Saugerties circuit. It 
was very affecting to hear him relate his expe- 
rience. As near as I can remember, it was as 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



93 



follows: — About the year 1828, not very long 
after his marriage, he was invited by a friend to 
go with him to a prayer-meeting in a private 
house. He was a disbeliever in the doctrine of 
experimental religion, as taught by evangelical 
Christians, and also in the doctrine oL eternal 
punishment. In the course of the meeting, an 
old man arose and testified to the knowledge of 
his acceptance with God. At first his unbelief 
spurned the idea of receiving this testimony as 
true. But the good Spirit wrought upon his 
heart; and although, for a time, he concealed 
his tears, yet at length he manifested his desires 
for the prayers of the people of God. He did 
not find the Lord at that time, but went home, 
and taking his wife by the hand, invited her to 
set out to serve God. That evening he com- 
menced praying in his family ; and on the fol- 
lowing evening, while engaged in that solemn 
duty, the Lord set his soul at liberty. Almost 
the first thought which arose in his mind was 
concerning the dangerous condition of his uncon- 
verted parents. They had been kind to him ; 
they had watched by his couch, in time of sick- 
ness, during the lonely midnight hour ; but yet 
he feared that they were neglecting the great 
salvation, and of course in the wav to everlasting 
death. How unspeakably painful such a thought ! 



94 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



As he could not then conveniently visit them, he 
immediately wrote a letter to them, informing 
" them what great things God had done for " 
him. In a few weeks he received a visit from 
them. While they tarried with him a few days, 
he urgeji them to submit themselves to the Lord. 
When they were about to depart, he took each 
of them by the hand, and did not let go his af- 
fectionate grasp till they had promised to seek 
the Lord until they found him. In a short time 
he received the happy tidings of their conversion 
to God. Many hearts were melted while the 
good man related these particulars. A few 
weeks before this present writing I saw a notice 
of brother Webster's peaceful death in the Chris- 
tian Advocate. He was, for many years, a faith- 
ful laborer among the ministers of the New- York 
Conference. 

Another brother was also prevailed upon, by 
my request, to give us a detail of some remark- 
able incidents in his life. This was a preacher 
whom I have frequently mentioned already, bro- 
ther Hedstrom, from Charlotte circuit. In com- 
pliance with my wishes, he had given this narra- 
tive publicly in different places in the Jefferson 
circuit during the previous conference year, while 
I had charge of that part of the work. In every 
instance the people were much pleased and pro- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



95 



fited ; hence I renewed my request when he vis- 
ited us at West Hunter. 

It was very interesting to listen to his descrip- 
tion of the moral darkness which surrounded him 
in Sweden, the land of his birth ; of the provi- 
dential care which was over him on his way to 
the United States ; and of his feelings after his 
arrival here, as he contrasted the civil and reli- 
gious liberty of this happy land with what he 
had seen in the old world. But when he spoke 
of his conviction for sin, and his first draught 
from the well of salvation ; — when he told us of 
his visit to his native land, and his interview with 
an aged father, after an absence of many years, 
and the effect which his testimony for God had, 
through the divine blessing, upon his father and 
other friends, the hearts of almost all who heard 
him seemed to be deeply affected. Many very 
touching circumstances were connected with this 
narrative, to which I have not time and space 
even to make an allusion. The relation which 
he gave us occupied the time which otherwise 
would have been given to a sermon, and appeared 
to me to have a most excellent effect. 

As the meeting progressed, cases of awaken- 
ing occurred. Among these was a merchant, 
about forty years old, who lived in an adjoining 
town. His eldest child, an amiable daughter. 



96 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



and her brother, had been awakened at East 
Kill, in the reformation in that place which I 
have recorded. On a Sabbath evening during 
that good work, they were both with the mourn- 
ers at the altar. I met them as they were re- 
turning home in their carriage on the next day, 
and " advised them how to flee from the wrath 
to come, which they saw continually hanging 
over their heads." The daughter's desire for 
her own salvation did not prevent her from think- 
ing of the danger of her unconverted father ; and 
she earnestly requested my wife and myself to 
visit their dwelling, that we might converse with 
him. Before the protracted meeting at West 
Hunter she had found the Saviour ; and I had 
not only complied with her request, but had ob- 
tained the privilege of preaching in the neighbor- 
hood. Perhaps it was on the second or third 
day of the meeting in West Hunter that the mer- 
chant's stubborn knees were bent in humb]e sup- 
plication for pardoning mercy. Soon he pro- 
fessed to find the blessing which he sought, and 
his pious companion and daughter beheld with 
gladness the manifestation of God's grace in 
answer to their prayers.* 

s The place where this man resided was very destitute of 
Methodist influence till this revival. A class, however, was 
soon formed; they were supplied with regular preaching; 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



97 



An inquiry may arise in the reader's mind, 
how so many ministers could be employed to 
advantage in a country place, where the popula- 
tion was not dense, and the congregation not 
large. But he will remember that we had two 
or three sermons each day ; and as there were 
some persons in the neighborhood who could not, 
and others who would not, come to the church, 
I requested two of the ministers to go from house 
to house, conversing with the people on the great 
concerns of their souls' salvation, while we were 
spending the afternoon in preaching, exhortation, 
and prayer in the church. Besides, on one or 
more evenings we had preaching at a place three 
or four miles from the church, as well as in that 
house of worship. 

Brother R. H. Bloomer, who went out there 
to preach, was requested to call, as he returned, 
upon an inn-keeper who lived on the road, and 
invite him to come to the church and hear the 
gospel. The minister, though a perfect stranger 
to the man, called on him and kindly presented 

and I believe a house of worship has since been built by the 
Methodists in that place. The pious daughter finished her 
pilgrimage in a few years. May the unworthy worm whom 
she acknowledged as her spiritual father meet her on the 
heights of Mount Zion ! If I am not mistaken, the father 
has since been called away to follow his daughter to the land 
of rest. 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



the request. It was also kindly received, and 
on the next day the inn-keeper and his wife were 
seen in the house of prayer. This was the same 
day on which the merchant above mentioned, 
from an adjacent town, came to the altar and 
found mercy. He and the inn-keeper were inti- 
mate friends, and not far from the same age. 
The latter looked with surprise upon his kneel- 
ing friend, and listened attentively to the word 
of life. Before the week ended, he and his wife 
adopted the resolution of the Psalmist : — " I will 
declare mine iniquity, I will be sorry for my sin*" 
On Sabbath we were favored with the labors of 
brothers Merwin and Collins. The feelings of 
the congregation during the afternoon sermon 
were very intense ; and as soon as the opportu- 
nity was given, a large number pressed their way 
to the altar of prayer. The inn-keeper came 
again as a supplicant for mercy. In the course 
of the prayer-meeting he said to me, " Mr. Os- 
born, I have been praying God to let me know 
what is the hindrance that prevents me from giv- 
ing up my heart to Him, and I believe He has 
answered my prayer. I think I ought to clear 
out my bar." Right glad was I to learn that he 
saw the evil of selling ardent spirits. " You need 
not wait," said I, " till you reach home and actu- 
ally remove the decanters from your bar. God 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



99 



is ready to take the will for the deed. Make the 
sacrifice sincerely and fully in your heart, and 
you may now rely implicitly upon the merits of 
Christ, and find mercy.' ' He told me on the next 
morning that he had " cleared out Ms bar," and 
his soul was happy in God. 

A brother of the merchant was also one of the 
seekers for mercy on that memorable Sabbath. 
His daughters also embraced religion about the 
same time. It was thought that about twenty 
persons, if not more, found the blessing of for- 
giveness during the meeting, which continued 
six days. 

The inn-keeper's house became a place of oc- 
casional preaching, where my soul has been re- 
freshed with showers of mercy. There I have 
seen the man of the house, the converted mer- 
chant, and his brother, all happy in the love of 
God together. Not long after the inn-keeper's 
conversion, a gentleman, who has since repre- 
sented that district in Congress with great ability, 
called at his house. Before this gentleman went 
away, the young Christian said to him, " Colonel 
P., something strange has happened here lately." 
" What is it ?" said the colonel. " God has con- 
verted my soul, and I have stopped selling rum." 

Shortly after this blessed season of mercy, a 
good work began in brother Hedstrom's circuit, 



100 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



at the same place where, three years before, we 
enjoyed such a good protracted meeting in a 
barn. The weather was cold and unpleasant 
while I was with them, during the first part of 
the meeting, which commenced September 27th, 
1836 ; hence the congregation was small for some 
days. But the God of Elijah answered by fire, 
and it was thought that twenty-five or thirty 
souls were brought home to Christ. The Rev. 
Messrs. J. Bangs, J. Crawford, and A. C. Field 
assisted brother Hedstrom in this revival. 

On the 26th of October, 1836, 1 left my home 
in Windham, and crossed over the Catskill Moun- 
tains, in compliance with the request of brothers 
D. J. Wright and W. C. Hoyt, to unite my efforts 
with theirs in winning souls to Christ. Any one 
who has passed over the mountain on the Cats- 
kill and Windham turnpike must remember the 
grand and glorious prospect which spreads out 
before the eye of the traveler when he stands on 
the lofty summit. The section of country inhab- 
ited by the congregation worshiping in the Meth- 
odist church in Durham was a part (though but 
a small part) of this magnificent landscape. As 
my eye wandered over this part of the beautiful 
prospect, it was natural for me to think of the 
souls, the immortal souls, scattered among those 
hills and valleys, for whose welfare I was going 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



101 



to labor for a few days. The reader will not 
wonder that I should lift up my heart in prayer 
to God that he would bless my feeble labors, 
and the efforts of my brethren in the ministry, 
who were coming there to labor for God. If I 
mistake not, I met during that week with the 
following preachers, besides the ministers sta- 
tioned on the circuit ; namely, Bela Smith, Phi- 
neas Cook,* M. L. Pendell, John Crawford, L. 
Craw, D. Webster, Daniel Holmes, and Elijah 
Crawford. The last three in this list have now 
escaped to " Immanuel's breast." 

On the first day of the meeting I endeavored 
to show the members of the church what was 
their duty on the present occasion, using these 
words as a motto : — " Lord, what wilt thou have 
me to do ?" The invitation was given daily for 
awakened sinners to come to the altar ; but again 
and again we were grieved to see none accept 
the invitation. On Saturday afternoon brother 
Crawford (now of the Oneida Conference) preach- 
ed an impressive sermon from these words : — 
" Have faith in God.' 7 He was about to leave 
us, and return to his own circuit ; but his soul 

° These two were aged brethren, on the supernumerary or 
superannuated list, who resided in Durham. E. Crawford 
died in Hartford, Aug. 30, 1849. A few moments before his 
death, he whispered to a friend, "lam filled unutterably full 
of glory and of God." 



102 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



yearned for the sinners in Durham, and he most 
earnestly exhorted the brethren in the place to 
" have faith in God," and trust in him to send his 
awakening grace to the hearts of the people. 
In the evening of that day we saw the mighty 
power of God displayed. Fifteen or twenty 
weeping penitents came to the altar. On the 
following day, both in the afternoon and even- 
ing, the altar was surrounded by those whose 
anxious inquiry was, "What shall we do to be 
saved ?" and twelve happy converts crowned the 
labors of Saturday evening, Sabbath, and Sab- 
bath evening. I left the place on the next day ; 
but soon heard that thirteen persons at one time 
united with the society as probationers for mem- 
bership. 

During the year of my labors on the Wind- 
ham circuit, I was repeatedly favored with the 
assistance of my beloved brethren Collins and 
Bloomer, who were then laboring in the Pratts- 
ville circuit. They were blessed with revivals in 
different parts of their circuit ; and at three of 
their protracted meetings I was permitted, to 
some extent, to participate in their labors and 
their joys. One of these meetings was at a place 
called Beaver Dam, in Roxbury, in Delaware 
county. Here the Lord blessed my own soul in 
a remarkable degree. Another was at Mores- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



ville, in the same county, and began December 
20th, 1836. Here I had an opportunity of la- 
boring with two dear friends, whose acquaintance 
I had made some years before in Columbia county. 
I allude to Rev. D. Starks and Rev. John Carver. 
The latter was one of the many who have cause 
to thank God for raising up Arnold Scholefield 
to preach the gospel, and for making him the 
instrument of their conversion to God. It was 
at the Downing meeting-house, in Hillsdale, in 
Columbia county, SF. Y., where the solemn words 
fell from his lips which reached the heart of John 
Carver. This was before I had visited Hillsdale, 
and probably when Mr. Scholefield was presiding 
elder of the Rhinebeck district. While traveling 
the Windham circuit, a newspaper notice of the 
death of Mr. S. met my eye. I had taken the 
Advocate from the post-office while on my way 
to an appointment, and, perusing its columns as 
I rode along, these words caught my notice as 
the caption of an article : — f* Death of Rev. Mr. 
Scholefield." For some time I could hardly 
command my feelings so as to read the particu-* 
lars of his death. At length, having perused 
the affecting account, I went on my way indulg- 
ing in reflections both solemn and joyful. I could 
not but remember the expressions contained in 
a letter written when he was a superannuated 



104 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



preacher, and I was laboring on the Delaware 
circuit. He alluded, in that letter, to former 
days, when he had gone over those hilly regions 
in search of lost souls ; and then he added, " If 
strength permitted, how gladly would I again 
take the roughest circuit I ever traveled, and 
point sinners to the Lamb of God." Although 
his death was so sudden that he had no oppor- 
tunity to leave a dying testimony for his Master, 
yet his life of piety and usefulness did not per- 
mit us to doubt of his admission, through the 
merits of Christ, into the kingdom of God. 

But let me return from this digression, into 
which I have been led by mentioning the name 
of brother Carver as one who was present at the 
meeting held in Mores ville. At this meeting, as 
well as the one in Roxbury, mentioned before, 
several souls appeared to obtain an interest in 
the Saviour. I shall not soon forget the feelings 
of my heart while riding and conversing with 
brother Collins on my departure from Mores ville. 
Both of us remained on Saturday evening till the 
close of the service ; but as he had an appoint- 
ment at ten o'clock next morning, about eight 
miles from Moresville, and my appointment, at 
the same hour, was about fourteen miles distant, 
we traveled on horseback several miles that even- 
ing, and, rising early in the morning, went on 



OF ELBERT OSBQRN, 



105 



together till our different appointments called us 
to part. We had rejoiced to see the goodness 
of God at the meeting from whence we had just 
come, and we considered it a privilege to 

" Spend our strength, and blood, and pains, 
To cultivate Lnmanuel's lands." 

But another meeting in brother Collins* field of 
labor, at a place called West Settlement, was 
more successful, probably, than either of the two 
just mentioned. Brother Collins preached a 
fast-day sermon there on the Friday before their 
quarterly meeting. On Saturday and Sabbath 
the quarterly meeting was held ; and on Monday 
afternoon, when I arrived at the church, I found 
brother White, the presiding elder, preaching 
with much earnestness to the people. The meet- 
ing was continued each day and evening through 
that week. I could tarry with them but a few 
days ; but I find, from a memorandum of mine, 
dated two weeks after the quarterly meeting, 
that I had then been informed that about thirty- 
five individuals had found the Saviour of sinners. 

In the course of the winter a good quarterly 
meeting was held in our church in East Kill, 
where the Lord had poured out his Spirit abun- 
dantly during the previous summer. More than 
eighty friends from a distance were kindly pro- 
vided with entertainment on Saturday night. A 



106 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



snow-storm, which commenced on Saturday, be- 
came so severe that none of the friends from 
other places could reach their homes till Monday. 
On that day I took my wife and infant child, and, 
in company with eight other sleighs, (one of them 
occupied by Rev. 1ST. White, the presiding elder,) 
started to go down the mountain to my residence, 
about six miles distant. The neighbors shoveled 
a path through the snow for us, but our progress 
was so slow that we were five hours in reaching 
our home. While the friends, with our assist- 
ance, were breaking a path for us, the females 
would stop at some house on the road. But 
amidst these little difficulties we felt contented, 
yea, thankful ; for we were returning from a 
spiritual " feast of fat things." 

While I resided in Windham, my dear brother 
Munger was laboring on the Broome circuit, ad- 
joining Windham. His colleague was a native 
of Ireland, by the name of John Crawford, who 
is now a minister in the Oneida Conference. 
They commenced a protracted meeting Novem- 
ber 7th at Strykersville, and were assisted by 
J. Bangs, 0. Gr. Hedstrom, and A. C. Field. I 
also esteemed it a privilege to lend my feeble aid 
during the few days which I could spend with 
them. A number of conversions took place be- 
fore I left. After the first week, they had but 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



107 



little help from abroad ; yet I believe they con- 
tinued the meetings every evening (and perhaps 
almost every day) till the quarterly meeting, held 
there on the 26th and 27th instant. On that 
occasion I was informed that twenty-two of the 
young converts were baptized in the name of the 
Holy Trinity, and God's presence was manifested 
in the midst, a number of souls being converted 
at the quarterly meeting. 

I believe that more than sixty were brought 
to Christ in this revival, and almost all of them 
placed themselves under the care of the church. 
When I remember the tears that were shed by 
the ministers of that circuit as they spoke to each 
other concerning their protracted meeting a few 
days before its commencement, I am reminded 
of the words of holy writ :— " They that sow in 
tears shall reap in joy." 

Another protracted meeting was appointed by 
the preachers of Broome circuit at a small church 
in a neighborhood which I think they called 
Blenheim Hill ; but I believe it was frequently 
designated, on account of its high elevation and 
rocky surface, as the " Bach Bone." The wea- 
ther was intensely cold when this meeting was 
held, and I rode twenty-five miles on horseback 
from my house to reach the place. When I en- 
tered the church I found A. 0. Field, a young 



108 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



preacher from another circuit, was preaching, 
but neither of the preachers of the circuit was 
there. This looked rather forbidding. How- 
ever, in the course of the day both of them ar- 
rived, having traveled many miles through the 
severe cold. I believe they had been detained 
by some business of church discipline. But the 
hallowed fire soon began to kindle among the 
people. After spending three or four days with 
them, I returned to my own circuit. Not long 
after, a letter from brother Munger informed me 
that several had been added to the society as 
the fruit of the meeting ; and that one man in 
particular, for whose awakening and conversion 
I had felt a special desire, was made happy m 
the love of God two or three weeks after the 
close of the meeting. Two different neighbor- 
hoods in the town of Windham were favored 
with some manifestations of divine power during 
the year of my residence there. One of these 
places was then called Osbornville, as several 
persons of the name of Osborn dwelt in that 
vicinity. Having no church of our own in the 
place, we labored under many disadvantages ; 
yet several turned to the Lord. 

We had a protracted meeting in that part of 
Windham called the North Settlement, and about 
fifteen persons were made happy subjects of the 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



109 



grace of God in the space of two weeks, The 
society in this place had been formed by Seth 
Crowell in 1805, when he preached on the Al- 
bany circuit. There were a few aged brethren 
living there who remembered him with strong 
affection. With delight they would describe the 
earnest manner in which that man of God once 
blew the gospel trumpet among those hills and 
forests, causing them to echo with salvation's 
"joyful sound." If the reader turns to the six- 
teenth and thirty-second pages of Part I. of my 
narrative, he will not wonder that I listened with 
interest to anecdotes concerning Mr. Crowell.* 

At the conference of 1836, when brother Hor- 
ton and myself were appointed to Windham cir- 
cuit, a part of the circuit was connected with a 
section of Middletown circuit, to form Prattsville 
circuit. On Windham circuit, as we found it, 
there were two hundred and forty-nine members, 
and we left three hundred and fifty-five, there 
being a net addition of one hundred and six. 
The whole number received on probation during 
the year was one hundred and twenty-four. Of 
these, fifty-two were received into full connection 

* Mr. C. died in the city of New-York, July 6th, 1826. See 
a brief account of him in "Minutes of Conferences," vol. i, 
p. 541. The volumes of bound Minutes are an invaluable 
treasure to every one who delights to trace the footsteps of 
the heralds of the cross. 



110 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



before the close of the conference year. I will 
here add, that Rev. Messrs. P. Cook, D. J. 
Wright, and L. Craw rendered us very accepta - 
ble assistance in Windham at our protracted 
meeting, as well as other ministers whom I have 
already named. May the good Lord abundantly 
reward all his servants, both in the ministry and 
membership, who have at any time or place as- 
sisted me in my efforts to pluck sinners as brands 
from the everlasting burnings ! 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



Ill 



CHAPTER VI. 

COEYMANS CIRCUIT, 

In the spring of 1837, as I retained the same 
views of duty which I had when I left Jefferson 
circuit, the authorities of the Church indulged 
me in what they considered perhaps a whim, and 
I was appointed to a new field of labor. Rev. 
F. W. Sizer was appointed my colleague for this 
year, he having been one of the preachers there 
during the year previous. This section of coun- 
try lay on the west side of the Hudson River, 
and it was inhabited by a more wealthy popula- 
tion than some other circuits in which I had 
labored. The villages of Coxsackie, New-Balti- 
more, and Coeymans (all lying on the Hudson) 
were included in it. The northern extremity of 
the circuit was but about seven miles from Al- 
bany, and the southern part of it about the same 
distance from Catskill, in Greene county, and the 
circuit was perhaps nearly equally divided be- 
tween Greene and Albany counties. To the west 
and north lay portions of the Troy Conference, 
and on the east side of the river were Columbia 
and Rensselaer counties. Many of the hills over 
which I had wandered in search of precious souls, 



112 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



when I labored in Chatham and Hillsdale cir- 
cuits, in 1829, 1830, 1831, and 1832, were plainly 
to be seen from several heights of land in Coey- 
mans circuit. On my journey from Windham to 
Coeymans, I passed again with my family over 
the summit of the Catskill Mountains, where I 
could look down upon my new circuit as upon a 
map. The Lord knows what were my feelings 
while casting my eyes over the field assigned me 
for that year. How cheering to the minister, 
under such circumstances, to remember the pro- 
mise of the Almighty Jesus : — " Lo, I am with 
you always, even to the end of the world." As 
I was descending the mountain, and urging my 
way on toward my future habitation, the clouds 
began to pour down torrents of rain upon us, 
and when we entered it, our furniture and our- 
selves were well drenched ; but God mercifully 
preserved our health and lives. 

About three miles, I believe, from the brick 
church (then recently erected near Coeymans 
Landing) stood the old stoner church in which 
Bishop Asbury held a conference in the year 
1807. In the year previous to my coming here, 
three preachers were appointed to this circuit, 
but only two for the present year; hence we 
found it necessary to enlist local preachers, to 
assist us in supplying the regular Sabbath ap- 



OE ELBERT OSBORN. 



113 



pointments. A local elder by the name of Hugh 
Jolly, who, with his brother, resided near the old 
stone church just mentioned, was very willing to 
labor with us as far as advanced age would per- 
mit. His labors were very acceptable and use- 
ful, as were those of brother Craw, who lived in 
an adjoining circuit. 

In the course of the summer I attended two 
camp-meetings on the opposite side of the river. 
One of them was held at Ancram, under the 
supervision of Rev. B. Griffin. Among others 
who preached there was our (now deceased) fa- 
ther Samuel Cochran, who had told me, fifteen 
years previous, to do the deviVs kingdom all the 
injury I could. The numerous anecdotes which 
the preacher told in that sermon extorted a few 
smiles and many tears. The parting scene at 
that camp-meeting was such a melting season as 
I have but seldom witnessed. The other camp- 
meeting to which I alluded was in Chatham, 
within the bounds of the Troy district, of which 
Rev. Buell Goodsell was presiding elder. Here 
I met many of the friends of former years, whose 
steadfastness in piety cheered me much. It was 
here that I last heard the Rev. Charles Sherman 
preach the gospel. Never can I forget the rich- 
ness of divine truths, as well as the holy pathos 
of that sermon. 

8 



114 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



We appointed an extra meeting at the Union 
church, near Dr. Webber's, in the south-west 
part of Coxsackie, to commence on Tuesday., 
September 26th, 1837. On my way to this 
place, which was several miles from my house, 
I was drawn out in prayer to Almighty God for 
his aid in the labors before me, and for the bless- 
ing of God to rest upon this first extra effort 
which we made after my appointment to this 
circuit. A lonely grove near the side of the road 
presented such a favorable opportunity for secret 
prayer, that I dismounted from my horse with 
feelings perhaps somewhat similar to those of 
Abraham's servant when he cried out, " Lord 
God of my master Abraham, I pray thee send 
me good speed this day.' 7 

Two or three ministers whom we expected to 
be with us were providentially detained from 
coming ; but we remembered that God gave vic- 
tory to Gideon's army when it was reduced from 
thirty-two thousand to three hundred. We la- 
bored from Tuesday till Saturday before we saw 
any marked indications of willingness in sinners 
to seek the Lord. When at length some broke 
the snare of the enemy by coming to the altar, 
others were encouraged to yield to their convic- 
tions of duty and do likewise.' 

The conversion of one man, in the course of 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



115 



the second week of the meeting, was attended 
with some rather peculiar circumstances, which 
I will relate as nearly as I can recollect them. 
His wife was among the first who went forward 
as a seeker of religion. More than once I went 
to him in the congregation, and besought him to 
yield to the claims of duty. He listened with 
attention, and his respectful replies indicated that 
he felt the need of religion ; yet he declined to 
"go forth without the camp bearing " Christ's 
" reproach." Just about this time, a little child 
of one of his relatives was accidentally burned to 
death. I was called to attend the funeral, and, 
after the solemn service, went by invitation to 
dine at the house of my friend whose wife was 
seeking the Lord. My conversation was directed 
to the object of leading this interesting couple to 
Christ. After dinner, I very unexpectedly re- 
ceived a small sum of money from him as a 
present. Taking occasion from this circumstance, 
I set before him the willingness of God to bless 
him and his wife by saying to him, " God is more 
willing to impart the pearl of great price to you, 
than you were to bestow this present upon me." 
I then left him, and went to make other calls 
among the people. In the evening, when the 
invitation was again given, I went to him once 
more in the congregation, and asked him if he was 



116 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



now willing to go with me to the altar. " Yes !" 
said he, " I will go with you." The readiness 
with which he answered and went forward sur- 
prised me so much, that I almost feared that he 
had become impatient of my entreaties, and that 
he was going rather out of disrespect than from 
a better motive. This fear, however, was hap- 
pily removed by his rising up soon after and tell- 
ing us that, in the course of that afternoon, the 
blessed Jesus had set his soul at liberty. He 
gave me to understand that, very soon after I 
left the house, he and his wife kneeled down to- 
gether by their own fireside, and while calling 
upon the Lord, his soul was blessed with par- 
doning love. Now he esteemed it a privilege to 
own his blessed Master. 

I do not definitely recollect the number who 
professed to find the Saviour of sinners at this 
meeting, but it is my impression that there were 
fifteen or twenty. I distinctly recollect the grate- 
ful feelings of my heart when, on my journey 
homeward, I came to the grove where I had 
poured out my soul in prayer to God for the 
success of the meeting. Dismounting from my 
horse, I found a place where I could kneel down 
beneath the shadow of the forest-trees, and here 
I offered up praise and thanksgiving to the God 
of grace for the tokens of mercy which had ap- 



OF ELBERT DSBORN. 



in 



pearecl on Coeymans circuit. I was also much 
encouraged to look for the revival of God's work 
in other parts of the circuit. 

The Methodist church in Coeymans Hollow, 
sometimes called Aquatoc, was nearly in the 
centre of the circuit, and not far from this church 
was my residence. In this neighborhood resided 
our ao-ed friend, brother BlooVet, who is men- 
tioned in Bishop Asbury's journal as one at whose 
house he once called and found entertainment. 
At the camp -meeting in Greenville, which I at- 
tended in the year previous to this, I had met 
with some Chiistians from this place, among 
whom was H. D, Brown, a class-leader. By 
him I was introduced to some unconverted neigh- 
bors of his, for whom he felt a deep anxiety, and 
to these I gave such advice as I hoped would 
prove beneficial. When I removed to this place 
I was pleased to learn that God had converted 
some of these individuals at a protracted meet- 
ing, held some time after the camp-meeting. 
Perhaps fifteen or twenty persons had been 
blessed in that revival ; yet there were many of 
our neighbors who were living without God in 
the world. With a strong desire for their con- 
version, I appointed an extra meeting, to com- 
mence October 10th, 1837, which was two weeks 
from the commencement of the meeting at the 



118 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

Union church, just mentioned. It is possible 
that I did not consult with the lay brethren as 
much as prudence required concerning the time 
of the meeting ; for I learned subsequently that 
one of our most efficient lay brethren thought 
then that I had selected an unfavorable time. 
Yet this did not hinder him from laboring with 
us for the good of souls. A preparatory meet- 
ing was appointed on an evening not long before 
our extra meeting was to commence. There the 
brethren and sisters were addressed on their du- 
ties, and an effort was made to impress a sense 
of their responsibility upon them. 

Three sermons were preached on the first day, 
and two on the second, before any other minis- 
ter came to my help. Perhaps I never felt 
deeper anxiety for souls than I did during those 
two days. At the close of the afternoon service 
my heart was delighted to see my dear brother 
D. Starks arrive. No invitation was given to 
sinners to manifest a concern about their souls, 
by coming to the altar or mourners' seat, till one 
came to my house and asked my intercessions in 
her behalf. Before that time, however, such 
professors of religion as felt the need of purity 
of heart had been invited to gather around the 
altar, and " with one accord, in one place/' plead 
for the baptism of the Holy Ghost and of fire. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



119 



A brother present asked if awakened sinners 
might not come also. An affirmative answer 
was given ; but still the idea was kept prominent 
that we were then endeavoring to lead the Church 
forward to that position where she could labor 
successfully for her blessed Master. Before the 
first week ended we had gracious manifestations 
of divine mercy, and the Sabbath following was a 
memorable day. The cries of awakened sinners, 
and the prayers of those who were interceding 
for them, were mingled with the praises of 
young converts and the shouts of happy Chris- 
tians, who rejoiced in the triumphs of the blessed 
Redeemer. 

Our beloved brother Starks was obliged to 
leave us on the Tuesday following ; but still the 
work went on, and many were added to the Lord. 
The labors of our brethren in the laity, who re- 
sided in the place, and of others who came from 
adjacent societies, were very useful. This revi- 
val brought in persons of different ages, classes, 
and conditions. Some, whose moral habits and 
circumstances in life gave them influence in so- 
ciety, were brought to bow low at the foot of 
the cross. Others, who had served sin and Satan 
with a high hand, turned from their vicious 
courses to the living God. 

A.s I had promised to go to New-Lebanon on 



120 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



the succeeding week to labor with brother Starks, f 
and as my appointment on another part of the 
circuit called me away on Sabbath afternoon, I 
improved the opportunity in the morning to 
gather in the fruits of the meeting by giving 
them permission to join our church on probation, 
I believe there were two or three cases which 
were looked upon as quite doubtful, and these 
persons were advised not to offer themselves just 
then as probationers, and they followed the ad- 
vice. The number of professed converts who 
united with us when the first opportunity was 
given (only twelve days from the beginning of 
the meeting) was forty-nine, and these were but 
a part of those who had already found mercy. 
My colleague, brother Sizer, with the assistance 
of brother Jolly, continued the meeting through 
the ensuing week. The whole number of those 
who professed to obtain the forgiving love of 
God in this revival was about eighty-five or ninety 
persons. 

The Sabbath evening after I left Coeymans 
Hollow I spent at the Union church, where, as 
I have already said, several had recently been 

° This was the condition on which brother Starks had 
agreed to assist me, and I did not feel at liberty to disappoint 
him, though I strongly desired to remain at Coeymans Hollow 
a season longer. 



OF ELBERT OSBOEN. 



121 



brought to Christ. Here I endeavored to feed 
the lambs of the flock with the sincere milk of 
the word. On the next day I crossed the Hud- 
son River, and went on my way to New-Leba- 
non, where I was received very kindly by bro- 
ther Starks and his colleague, W. M. Chipp. As 
this was the place where I had resided and la- 
bored eight years before, and where I had met 
with much kindness when my family were driven 
from their abode by fire,* I felt it a peculiar 
privilege to labor with them on this occasion. 
The servants of God did not spend their strength 
for naught. 

On the succeeding week I returned from New- 
Lebanon to my home, and in a few days our 
quarterly meeting commenced at the Methodist 
church in Bethlehem, about eight miles from 
Albany. Our presiding elder, brother N. White, 
was with us from Saturday morning till Monday 
afternoon. The meetings on Saturday and Sab- 
bath were profitable. On Sabbath evening no 
invitation was given for awakened sinners to come 
to the altar ; but professors, who desired full sal- 
vation, were invited to manifest it by coming 
around the altar. We had a very melting sea- 
son in calling upon the name of the Lord ; and 
one old brother, of high standing and extensive 

* See page 150 of Part I. of this narrative. 



122 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



influence in the church, said, after the meeting 
closed, " Brother Osbom, God has renewed the 
witness of perfect love in my heart.'' 

Rev. Joshua Poor, then residing in Greenbush, 
opposite to Albany, came to our assistance in the 
afternoon of the next day. We had made ar- 
rangements to follow our quarterly meeting with 
a protracted meeting, and had invited brother 
Poor to come and labor with us. His coming 
gave us much joy ; but we exhorted the brethren 
to look beyond men and means, and to call upon 
God for help. Brother Poor addressed a few 
words of exhortation to us immediately after his 
arrival. He said that he knew not of a place on 
earth where he should be more glad to see a re- 
vival than in that place. As he had resided in 
that ricinity previous to his entering the travel- 
ing ministry, he probably felt, in some measure, 
as Paul did concerning the salvation of his coun- 
trymen. 

In the evening we assembled again for wor- 
ship ; and, at the close of his sermon, brother 
Poor, according to a previous request from me, 
invited awakened sinners to manifest their de- 
sires. About twenty accepted this invitation, 
and most of them appeared to be deeply con- 
cerned for their souls' welfare. Several gave us 
reason to believe that they found the precious 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



128 



pearl that evening. The people of God were 
much encouraged by such a good beginning of 
the work, and resolved to pray and labor more 
earnestly than ever. The good old man, whose 
own soul had been so much quickened on the 
previous evening, now saw that the same God 
who could sanctify his people could also awaken 
careless sinners, even though some of them had 
long neglected the house of God. Brother Poor 
was with us several days, and in the course of 
about two weeks nearly fifty professed to meet 
with a happy change, and not far from forty 
placed themselves under the care of the Meth- 
odist Church. 

According to previous arrangements, a pro- 
tracted meeting was commenced by brother Poor 
in Castleton, Rensselaer comity, X. Y., imme- 
diately after the close of ours at Bethlehem. 
Castleton was an appointment in brother Poor's 
charge, and belonged to the Troy Conference. 
Leaving my horse in the care of a friend, I rode 
with brother Poor through Albany and Green- 
bush to Castleton. He remarked that, as there 
had been no awakening in Castleton in about 
seventeen years, he thought that the best way 
to arouse the church there would be to preach 
first directly to sinners. He feared, unless some 
movement could be produced among them, it 



124 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



would be impracticable to awake the church to 
action. "With these views I concurred, although 
we both believed that, generally, the best way is 
to preach at first more especially to the church. 
Brother John Alley, who had been my colleague 
six years before, was with us a short time at this 
meeting. 

In the course of a few days, awakenings among 
sinners were plainly evident. This had a very 
beneficial influence upon professors of religion. 
One aged brother remarked to a minister, " I begin 
to think that we shall have a revival in Castleton ; 
it looks like it." " Yes !" said the minister, " the 
prospect does appear favorable ; but there was 
never more need of prayer in Castleton than there 
is now." A married lady, whose husband was 
absent from home, was among the first who came 
to Christ. Late in the evening of the same day 
her companion returned home. In the morning 
I called, in company with a lay brother, to see 
them. We found his wife rejoicing. She sent 
for him to come in, and he very soon complied 
with her request. Not knowing the state of his 
mind, and fearing that he might feel himself dis- 
commoded by being called in from his work, I 
made some apology. " O !" said he, " I would 
leave any business whatever could I but obtain 
the comforts of religion. When my wife told me 



OF ELBERT OSBOKN. 



125 



last night what God had done for her soul, I 
thought it was time for me to seek the Lord.'* 
Although he lived in a good house, had a very- 
interesting family, with all the comforts of life 
around him, yet he saw and felt that there was 
yet one thing needful. The tears which started 
from his eyes during this conversation indicated 
the deep feeling of his heart. Nor was he 
ashamed to let the congregation know (when he 
met with them in the afternoon and evening) that 
he was determined to seek the Lord. Thanks 
be to God ! he did not seek in vain. Next morn- 
ing I had to leave at an early hour, in order to 
meet my Sabbath appointments on my own cir- 
cuit, which were more than twenty miles distant. 
Our aged brother Hogeboom,* who resided in 
this place, told me just before I left the place 
that, on the previous evening, he believed that 
God had sanctified his soul. This news glad- 
dened my heart, and encouraged me to believe 
that the good work would go on in Castleton. 

Instead of returning by the circuitous route 
which I took in coming, I obtained conveyance 

C; This excellent man had been a member of the conven- 
tion which formed a new constitution for the State, about the 
year 1821. He also had been a judge of the court, and he 
was a member of Congress about the years 1824 and '25. It 
was not long after the revival above-mentioned before Judge 
H. went home to his Father's house above. 



126 PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



in a small boat across the North River, and a 
walk of one or two miles brought me to the place 
where I had left my horse. The weather was 
cold and stormy, and the mud and snow made 
the traveling very unpleasant ; but on horseback 
and in the boat, as well as when walking through 
the mire, I was cheered with the thoughts of 
what God had begun to do in Castleton. On 
my way to my Sabbath appointments I spent 
two or three hours at my own house, informed 
my wife of the prosperity of the work of God, 
and invited her to join me in praising God for 
his goodness to the children of men. I after- 
wards learned that the good work went on gra- 
ciously in Castleton. A house of worship was 
soon erected. Although I have never been there 
since, yet I have looked upon that little village 
from the deck of the steamboat when I was pass- 
ing, and remembered that revival with gratitude 
to Almighty God. 

Just before the close of the year 1837, a little 
band assembled in Coxsackie, in Greene county, 
to commence a series of meetings in the name 
of the Lord Jesus, remembering that He had 
said to his disciples, " Without me ye can do 
nothing.' ' It was in the edifice occupied by the 
Reformed Dutch Church, in the village near the 
Coxsackie Landing, that this series of meetings 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



127 



was held. The Methodist brethren asked and 
obtained permission from the occupants of the 
house to hold a protracted meeting there, with 
the understanding that, at certain times, (I be- 
lieve once on Sabbath and once on a week-even- 
ing,) the Reformed Dutch congregation could 
assemble there to hold their usual regular meet- 
ings. At the commencement, no other minister 
but myself was present ; but before the services 
of the day were closed, my heart was cheered 
by the arrival of my beloved brother Rev. D. 
Starks, who came probably forty miles to spend 
a few days with us in his Master's work. Had 
the Hudson River been in a situation for him to 
cross directly over, his journey from his residence 
in New-Lebanon would have been much shorter ; 
but he could not cross safely at that time with- 
out going by the way of Albany. Yet, accord- 
ing to his promise, he came cheerfully (though 
the weather was very cold) to labor with us for 
the good of souls. Brother J. D. Marshall, from 
Windham circuit, also came to our assistance, 
and was able to remain a short time with us. 

If I rightly recollect, it was on the sixth even- 
ing of the meeting that the work of conversion 
commenced among the mourners. My colleague, 
brother Sizer, had arrived, and was laboring with 
us, and the people of God were earnest in their 



128 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



supplications. Though we had no place as con- 
venient as we could wish for mourners to kneel 
together for prayer and personal instruction, yet 
the good Lord inclined them to avail themselves 
of such privileges as we could give them. I 
think it was on Sabbath evening, December 31st, 
just as the year 1837 was expiring and the year 
1838 was commencing, that Mrs. C. was enabled 
to enter into the enjoyment of justifying mercy 
through faith in Christ. During the space of 
four weeks in succession, there was not a single 
day, I believe, in which Christians failed to as- 
semble in that house, both in the daytime and 
in the evening, to call upon the name of the 
Lord. In the mean time the people were not 
only warned " publicly," but " from house to 
house/' In this good work the ministers were 
much assisted by three or four brethren * of the 
laity, some of whom came from other parts of 
the circuit, at my earnest request, to devote their 
time and strength to the work of leading sin- 
ners to Christ. The readiness with which they 
co-operated in this good work, the willingness 
with which they performed any part assigned 
them, and the fervor which they appeared to feel 
in doing their duty, have produced a grateful 
afFection toward those brethren, which will endure 
8 L. Scott and T. W. Gibbons were among the number. 



OF ELBERT OSBOHN. 



129 



while life and memory last : yea. I trust, while 
"immortality endures.*' Two of those brethren 
were with me at an afternoon meeting, when cir- 
cumstances compelled me to resort to a measure 
which, to them, appeared at the time very im- 
proper. I was certain that it must appear so to 
them till I could explain the circumstances. 
This I could not consistently do till after the 
close of the meeting; yet they did not suffer 
this unusual step of mine to hinder them from 
doing their duty even in that meeting. And 
afterwards, when the explanation was made, they 
were fullv satisfied that a correct course had 
been taken. 

An exhorter in the place, then a merchant, 
but now, and for several years past, a traveling 
preacher/' was very active in promoting the re- 
vival. If I mistake not, we had some assistance 
from loc^al preachers ; and among them was our 
aged father in Christ, Rev. H. Jolly. Perhaps 
I never saw a revival in which so much apparent 
awakening influence accompanied the singing of 
suitable hymns as on this occasion. Some of the 
brethren, who frequently led the singing, were 
remarkable for the solemn, joyful, pathetic ear- 
nestness of their singing : and the Spirit of Clod 
accompanied it with power to many hearts. 
s Ber. Jason Wells, of the New-York Conference. 
9 



130 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



It was our custom, at the close of the sermon 
on every evening, to inform the congregation that 
a prayer-meeting would then commence, and that 
all who chose to retire could have the opportu- 
nity while we were singing a few verses, and 
that all who wished to remain could do so. We 
generally added that we hoped that those who 
remained till the prayer-meeting commenced 
would continue till its close, as we did not intend 
to continue it long after nine o'clock. By this 
course we succeeded in avoiding the interruption 
which arises when persons leave at different times 
during the prayer-meeting. Although the con- 
gregation was generally quite large on everv 
evening, yet, when the opportunity was given 
for any to retire before the prayer-meeting, al- 
most all the conoTeo-ation remained, and on some 
occasions none retired till the prayer-meeting 
was ended. 

I think it was in the course of the second week 
of the meeting that Rev. J. B. Wakeley, from 
Stockport, on the opposite side of the Hudson 
River, came over to our "Macedonia" to help 
us. As brother Starks and brother Marshall 
had gone back to their own work at the close of 
the previous week, when brother Wakeley made 
his appearance it led brother Sizer and myself 
to " thank God and take courage.'* It was on 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



131 



a subsequent visit to Coxsackie, before the series 
of meetings closed, that he crossed the river 
amidst much difficulty and danger. The wea- 
ther for a few days previous had been so mild 
that the ice had broken up, and was floating in 
detached pieces down the stream. Our brother 
ventured to attempt to pass over in a small boat, 
with but one man with him. The wind was high, 
the pieces of ice were thickly strewed over the 
surface of the water, dashing one against the 
other ; but the servant of the Lord persevered, 
and his divine Master carried him safelv through.* 

° In the course of a few weeks I had an opportunity to 
return this kindness. Brother W. had an extra meeting in 
Claverack, and wrote for me to assist him. Crossing the 
river was then very difficult, and I could not get my horse 
over at all. A small boat conveyed me a part of the way on 
the water, and when we came to the ice the boatmen dragged 
the boat (provided with runners) on the ice. When I reached 
the shore I walked three miles through the mud to the place. 
"When I returned, a few days after this, I walked some dis- 
tance on the ice with the boatmen to reach the boat, and 
stepped from one cake to another, where the water was said 
by the boatmen to be sixty feet deep. But these perils were 
small compared with many that some of Christ's ministers 
have passed through. They were small, too, in comparison 
of dangers which are often encountered by many in pursuit 
of worldly gain. About twelve years after this I met with a 
pious woman, who gave me the pleasing information that 
God blessed the message which I delivered in weakness at 
Claverack on that occasion to the awakening and conversion 
of her soul. A rich reward for all my toil ! 



132 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Brother W. had recently been on a visit to a 
dying minister on Long Island, Rev. Jesse Car- 
ley. This minister was brother W.'s immediate 
predecessor at Stockport. He had also labored 
with much acceptance and success, a very few 
years before, in the Coeymans circuit, which in- 
cluded Coxsackie. When our brother Wakeley 
came to visit us, he told us that he had been a 
journey of one hundred and forty miles, to carry 
a token of brotherly love to him from his friends 
in Stockport. They had heard of his protracted 
illness, and had sent him a small sum of money 
as an expression of their kindness. Soon after 
brother W. returned from Long Island, the tidings 
came that brother C. had gone home to his hea- 
venly rest. The account which our brother gave 
of the triumphant language of the departing 
saint, was of course very interesting and impres- 
sive to the people of Coxsackie. The servant 
of God being dead, seemed yet to speak through 
the lips of another to those who had, in former 
days, listened to his sermons and witnessed his 
tears. 

In the course of three weeks from the com- 
mencement of the meeting, about seventy persons 
professed to find peace in believing. Before the 
revival terminated, the number was increased 
nearly, if not quite, to a hundred. A goodly 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



133 



number of them united with us on probation, al- 
though several of them, having connections and 
relatives in other churches, were led to cast in 
their lots with them. I will only add, that 
shortly after this a way seemed opened for the 
erection of a Methodist elmrch in the village. 
In the course of three days, I succeeded in ob- 
taining subscriptions to the amount of about thir- 
teen hundred dollars. After I left the circuit, 
the house was erected and dedicated to the wor- 
ship of God. I trust it has already been the 
birthplace of many souls ; and many more, I 
hope, will there 'Haste, and see that the Lord is 
good." 

Not long after the revival at Coxsackie I spent 
a few days in Greenbush, where brother Poor 
resided, and where he was holding a series of 
meetings. Four pious persons, whom I fre- 
quently saw during those few days, have since 
gone home to the mansions of bliss. One was 
the wife of our brother Poor ; another was Enos 
Northrop, a prominent member of the church in 
that place ; another was his daughter, then afs 
flicted with lingering illness ; and the other was 
Dr. Noah Levings, whose praise is in all the 
churches. The pleasing and instructive conver- 
sation of brother Levings and brother Poor, in 
the study of the latter, has left a lasting impres- 



134 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



sion on niy mind. How many, with whom I 
have held sweet converse on earth, are now con- 
versing with wise and holy beings in the man- 
sions of the blessed ! 

During this visit at Greenbush I embraced the 
opportunity, two or three times, of walking across 
the river on the ice to Albany, where I called on 
my old friend E. Ford, whose hospitalities I had 
enjoyed some years before in Columbia county. 
As the State Legislature was in session, I had 
the privilege of listening a few horns to the de- 
bates in the capitol ; and I hope that this and 
the few other opportunities which I have enjoyed 
of witnessing the proceedings of our legislators, 
have had a tendency to induce me more fre- 
quently and earnestly to pray for "all that are 
in authority.' ' 

In the early part of February, 1838, brother 
Poor had an opportunity to return the visit which 
I had made him, by assisting us in our protracted 
meeting at Coeymans Landing. This was com- 
menced by a good quarterly meeting in the new 
brick church which had been erected there. A 
revival, in which forty or fifty persons professed 
to be the subjects of the work, was the result of 
God's blessing on the efforts made at this time. 
Brother Jolly, the local preacher whom I have 
mentioned, remarked in the course of this meet- 



OF ELBERT OiBUKX. 



135 



ing that be had seen many gracious revivals dur- 1 
ing the last thirty years in that and the adjacent 
towns, but he had never beheld such displays 
of divine power and mercy before as he had wit- 
nessed within the last six months. There must 
have been about three hundred persons within 
the limits of that circuit who professed to find 
the Friend of sinners between June 1st, 1837, 
and June 1st, 1838 ; but we are often reminded 
of the parable of the net, from which they " gath- 
ered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away." 

While brother Sizer, brother Jolly, and my- 
self rejoiced in seeing sinners turn to God, our 
brethren in charges adjacent were, some of them, 
highly favored of the Lord. At Rensselaerville 
it was thought, if I remember rightly, that one 
hundred came to Christ in the course of that 
winter. I had the privilege of spending a few 
joyful days with the brethren in that revival. 
At Dormansville our labors did not appear to be 
attended with any special good results. There 
was only one person in the neighborhood, that I 
remember, who professed to experience religion 
during the whole year of my labors on Coeymans 
circuit, and she was blessed at a quarterly meet- 
ing at Greenville. How rejoiced was I to hear, 
after I left the circuit, that the labors of others 
who occupied that field were owned ;md blessed 



136 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of God, and that a commodious house of worship 
had been erected in that place. My soul has 
often been filled with gratitude when I have heard 
that God had blessed the efforts of my brethren 
to the awakening and conversion of individuals 
for whose salvation I had labored in vain. 

One visit which I received while in Coeymans 
I shall long remember. The reader, by turning 
to page 5 of the Memoir of H. C. Wooster, will 
perceive that his sister, who had just found the 
Saviour, was the means of leading him to Christ. 
This sister was still living, and, with a relative 
of hers, came to my house. Her name by mar- 
riage was Gavitt, and she had for many years 
been a widow. Having heard of her brother, 
when I was but a boy, as an eminently holy min- 
ister, who had finished his work before I was 
born, it seemed a great privilege to me that I 
was permitted to entertain under my roof the 
person whom God had made the instrument of 
his conversion. 

Recording this circumstance, brings to my mind 
the case of Carvosso, who was persuaded by Ms 
pious sister to turn to the Lord. It was about 
the time of my residence in Coeymans, I think, 
that I first perused that excellent, useful book, 
the Life of Carvosso. He resembled Wooster in 
the strength of his faith, but was spared to labor 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



137 



much longer in this world of wickedness and woe 
for his blessed Master. For sixty years Carvosso 
faithfully discharged the duties of a class-leader. 
His Memoir must profit all who read it with 
attention and prayer, 



188 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



CHAPTER VII. 

NEW-ROCHELLE CIRCUIT. 

At the conference held in May, 1838, I was ap- 
pointed to the New-Rochelle circuit. One of 
the parsonages was in Rye, and the other in 
JSTew-Rochelle. I took up my abode in Rye, and 
commenced my labors among the people. Per- 
haps the insertion of an article which I furnished 
for a religious paper, about a year since, will be 
suitable in this place : — 

[For the Christian Advocate and Journal^] 

£i Last Sabbath I was at a love-feast in F 8000 , among the 
L.'s, and the G.'s, and the F.'s, whose ancestors fled from the 
bloody sword of Louis XIV. to worship God in the wilds of 
America ; and we felt that the God of our fathers was with 
us." So said Samuel Merwin at a quarterly meeting in Ame- 
nia, held in the spring of 1823. A young minister was pres- 
ent who had just offered himself as a probationer to the con- 
ference, and he felt a thrill of indescribable emotion pass 
through him when these words were uttered. He had read 
of the persecuted, exiled Huguenots, and of many of their 
brethren who had been slain in their own land for " the word 
of God and the testimony of Jesus." And at the allusion 
just mentioned, his soul kindled with an ardent desire to be 
a faithful servant of the God of the martyrs. 

It was on a pleasant morning in June, 1838, that this min- 
ister entered, for the first time, the ancient sanctuary in New- 
Rbchelle, Westchester county, X. Y., kno-vvn as the Upper 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



139 



New-Rochelle Methodist church. Fifteen years had been 
spent in traveling and preaching the gospel ; he had met with 
but a very few of the children of the exiled Protestants of 
France ; but the name of the circuit where he was now com- 
mencing his labors reminded him of those sufferers for Christ, 
Eochelle in France having once been a stronghold of Protest- 
antism. The names of the people also gave indication of 
their ancestry. Here were the Bonetts, Le Comptes, Lefevres, 
Gallaudets, Coutants, Reshays, Deveaus, Seacords, &c, &c. 
This old church in New-Rochelle was said to be the first 
Methodist house of worship built on the American continent, 
east or north of the city of New-York. Some years before it 
was built, Francis Asbury, of blessed memory, had visited the 
place, and preached Jesus to the people. In December, 1771, 
about six weeks after he first landed on our shores, he preach- 
ed for the first time in this neighborhood. In those six weeks 
he had preached several times in Philadelphia, Burlington in 
New-Jersey, the city of New-York, and the town of West- 
chester, before he visited New-Rochelle. It was probably in 
June, 1787, that Bishop Asbury first preached in this church, 
and before his death he was permitted to do so several times. 
A few miles west of this house of prayer, in a neighborhood 
called Tuckahoe, was the residence of the Sherwood family, 
whose kindness to Asbury in sickness and in health he so 
frequently mentions in his Journal. 

In the spring of 1838 the society had concluded to remove 
the old building and erect a more commodious one in its 
place. It is not surprising that the minister just arrived in 
the circuit, who was about to preach in that edifice for the 
first and the only time, and who knew that on the next day 
it was to be taken down, should have very solemn feelings 
as he ascended the pulpit-stairs to speak in the name of his 
Master. There was good reason to believe that not only 
Asbury, but Whatcoat, M'Kendree, Wells, Abbott, Talbot, P. 
Moriarty, Van Nostrand, L. Smith, Garrettson,] 2[orreU,i Phoe- 
bus, Brush J Swaim, R. Cloud,! S. Hutchinson,! jlf Combs, 



140 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



T. Woolsey, O. Roberts,^ Totten, D. Brown, Ccuifield, J. Wil- 
son, E. Cooper, Dewy, Kibby, Chichester, Thacherj Ward, 
A. Hunt, Coleman, Sawyer, Redstone, B. Hibhard, Bull, Z. 
Lyon, Andrus, P. Peck, Thomas, Eanies, Swayze, E. Smith, 
J. Lyon, Sykes, S. Merwin^ Arnold, Bushnell, N. Emory, 
Coles Carpenter, Ostrander,] Richardson, N. Bangs,f P. P. 
Sandford,f E. Woolsey, Jewett,f Seney, H. Bangs, R. Seaman, 
Laban Clark, f Martindale, P. Rice, John M. Smith, E. Hebard, 
Bowen, Cochran, De Yinne, E. Washburn, I. Ferris, B. Sil- 
leck, H. Husted, P. L. Hoyt, P. R. Brown, and T. Sparks, 
with many others not here named, had stood in that pulpit 
and proclaimed "the acceptable year of the Lord, and the 
day of vengeance of our God. ;,a And now it was to be occu- 
pied for the last time. The solemn thought was powerfully 
impressed on his mind that many of those servants of the 
Most High had finished then work and gone to their reward. 
He too was hastening to his long home, and to the day of his 
final account. He was led to call the attention of his hear- 
ers to the great things which God had done in the land, since 
their fathers erected that house of prayer, where they were 
now assembled. Among those whom God had raised up in 
that vicinity to go forth in search of the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel, were Aaron Hunt, Arnold Scholefield, and 
Theodosius Clark, under whose ministrations he had been 
blessed in the days of his childhood and youth, when they 
preached Jesus in his father's house in Connecticut. 

Eleven years have rolled away since that solemn, joyful 

~ Those whose names are marked thus (f) had been presid- 
ing elders in that district at some time prior to 1838. Those 
in italics are dead ; the others are believed to be living, ex- 
cept those in small capitals, concerning whom the writer is 
uncertain whether they are dead or living. The names are 
recorded in the order of time in which they were first ap- 
pointed to the district or circuit which included New-Rochelle, 
according to the writer's best information. 



OS ELBERT OSBORN. 



141 



Sabbath morning, and the minister who preached in the old 
church in Xew-Eochelle at that time is still permitted to live 
and record some of his recollections in this article, while 
many who then listened to him are now in the world of spi- 
rits. May he be prepared to go also when the summons shall 
arrive ! 

The Eev. Parmele Chamberlin was my colleague on the 
circuit, and during the two years of our labor there we had 
cause to thank God for his blessing upon our efforts. Some 
gracious revivals took place among the people. We preached 
in Upper and Lower Xew-Eochelle, a part of Eastchester, 
Mamaroneck, Eye, Portchester, and King-street. In addi- 
tion to the assistance of the local preachers, we were favored 
with most acceptable help from our superannuated father in 
Christ, Eev. Elijah Woolsey, who resided in Eye, and occa- 
sionally visited other parts of the circuit, laboring as far as 
strength would permit. 

He was very much delighted, in the summer of 1833, when 
he witnessed a gracious revival of the work of God in that 
part of Eye where he resided, in which several of the young 
people were converted for whom he had felt a deep solicitude. 
I well remember with what animation this good old father 
in Israel expressed his feelings while the mourners and young 
converts were around the altar. The ardor of the soul seemed 
to raise the body for a time above the weakness of old age ; 
and from the agility of his motion, and the vivacity of his 
manner, one might almost suppose that he would be ready 
for a second mission to Upper Canada as soon as the passing 
revival in Rye should subside. 

Xear the residence of Mr. Woolsey was the grave of Eze- 
kiel Halstead, ' ; the faithful class-leader," of whom some 
account was given in the Christian Advocate some time in 
1838, the initials "E. H." being there used instead of the 
full name. His pious widow was then living, but has since 
died in the Lord. Although she resided, during the latter 
part of her life, in New-York, yet she occasionally visited 



142 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



her friends in Rye, and by her maternal counsel and pious 
example encouraged us much in the sendee of the Lord. 
Two of her sons, who were merchants in the city, were the 
means, in the hands of God, of assisting in the commence- 
ment and progress of the revival which I have just noticed. 
While visiting their Christian friends in Rye, they were not 
unwilling to warn and invite the people " publicly, and from 
xiouse to house." One of their brothers, William Halstead, 
died in the triumphs of faith in New-York while I resided 
in Rye. 

Another instance of the power of divine grace to support 
the Christian in death occurred about this time but a few 
miles from New-Rochelle. A young minister, John D. Bangs, 
the son of a former colleague of mine, was called to part 
with his pious, beloved companion, and in one week after- 
ward he also passed over Jordan into the land of rest. 
Amidst the great distress of body which he experienced in 
his last illness, his benevolence led him to exert his little 
remaining strength in pleading with one of the neighbors, 
who attended upon him, to give his heart to God. Recently, 
in passing through the place of his death and burial, I saw 
that neighbor, and learned from his own lips that the dying 
effort of the young minister (whose "ruling passion was 
strong in death") made an impression on his mind which 
never was erased till it led him to the mercy-seat. 

E. Osboen. 

Besides the glorious revival in Rye in the sum- 
mer of 1838, which I have mentioned in the pre- 
ceding article, the Lord favored us with gracious 
manifestations of divine mere} 7 in some other 
places. I particularly remember a good work 
in Mamaroneck, which caused much joy and gra- 
titude in the hearts of the ministers and people 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



143 



of God. During the progress of the revival we 
were very unexpectedly visited by that holy, yet 
singular man of God, James P. Horton. Several 
lay brethren from White Plains also came to labor 
with us. Our meetings were held both in the 
day and evening. The aged and the young were 
seen together pressing into the kingdom of grace. 

In the autumn of 1838 the new church in Up- 
per ]S~ew-Rochelle was finished. It occupied the 
site of the old church, which had been taken 
down. The Sabbath appointed for the dedica- 
tion of this new house proved to be stormy. 
Rev. Messrs. S. Martindale, F. Hodgson, and 
P. Chamberlin officiated in the morning, after- 
noon, and evening ; and notwithstanding the se- 
verity of the storm, the presence of God was felt 
by his people in the house of prayer. The series 
of meetings which followed was made the means 
of good to some souls. The first person who 
found mercy in that new house of worship was 
a descendant of that pious, benevolent Mrs. Sher- 
wood, whose Christian hospitality had cheered 
the laborious Asbury. Andrew Deveau, (a de- 
scendant of the Huguenots,) who took a deep 
interest in the erection of that house, has since 
finished his pilgrimage in peace. His spiritual 
father, Rev. Joshua Wells, of the Baltimore Con- 
ference, yet lives, I trust, waiting for the happy 



144 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



hour when he shall be called to meet "the chil- 
dren of his faith and prayers" in the kingdom 
of God. 

The reasonings and persuasions of the stewards 
of this circuit, and some other dear friends, in- 
duced me at the close of the conference year to 
consent once more to be appointed the second 
year to the same circuit, thinking that perhaps I 
had been mistaken in my views of duty. Bro- 
ther Chamberlin was again my colleague, and 
during the latter part of the year we had the 
assistance of Rev. Samuel IT. Fisher. Some of 
the circumstances which I shall hereafter men- 
tion occurred during the first, and others during 
the second year of my residence in Rye ; nor 
have I always thought it necessary to designate 
the year in which an occurrence took place. 
Brothers W. Jewett and 1ST. White were the pre- 
siding elders under whose care I was successively 
placed during these two years. Both of them 
had manifested paternal kindness to me while I 
was traveling among the mountains of Delaware 
county ; and the same God who blessed us to- 
gether there, did not forget to answer our pray- 
ers in Westchester county. At Portchester we 
saw some good accomplished, while we were fa- 
vored with assistance from brother G. C. Ban- 
croft, who had been converted while employed 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



145 



on board of a ship of war, and who had become 
a minister in the New- York Conference. I be- 
lieve it was at this good meeting that we also 
had some help from brothers Whitecar and Dunn, 
of the New- Jersey Conference. 

The society in Lower New-Rochelle was also 
favored with some displays of God's mercy in 
awakening and converting sinners in that place. 
In this neighborhood I found (living with their 
pious relatives, J. G. Horton and his wife) two 
little children who were descendants of that pious 
mother in Israel, Mrs. Hick. She brought her 
religion, warm and glowing in her heart, from 
Ireland to America, and stirred up her lukewarm 
friends to lift up the banner of a free and full 
salvation by faith in this western world. * Here, 
too, I became acquainted with an aged pilgrim 
by the name of Gryce. Before the revolution- 
ary war, her father's house in Maryland had 
been honored by the visits of that eminent ser- 
vant of God, George Shadford. Her own table 
had often been surrounded by eminent heralds 
of the cross while she dwelt in the city of New- 
York. Among these was our venerable and la- 

9 She was the means of collecting the first meeting of 
Methodists ever held in New- York — perhaps in America. See 
Bangs' History of the Methodist Episcopal Church, toI. i, 
pp. 47, 51. 

10 



146 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



borious superintendent, Francis Asbuiy. In her 
old age she was solaced by the kindness of an 
affectionate son-in-law and daughter, Mr. A. 
Banks and his wife, who resided in Kew-Rochelle. 
But "the best of all" was, God was with her. 
Before we left the circuit she was called to her 
home above, and brother Chamberlin preached 
her funeral sermon. 

This short notice of Mrs. Gryce leads me to 
notice another eminently pious aged widow, who 
was a very near neighbor of ours in Rye. The 
place of her dwelling was very different in size 
and outward appearance from the mansion where 
Mrs. Gryce lived, and prayed, and died with her 
children ; yet the humble dwelling of Jane Bowne 
(for that was the name of her to whom I now 
allude) was often felt to be a Bethel to ministers 
and other Christians who visited her. Greatly 
did she delight in the privileges of public wor- 
ship and of class-meeting, while my family and 
myself esteemed it a great privilege to assist her 
in going to the house of the Lord. Her grati- 
tude for temporal favors and religious visits was 
deep, and her patience under sufferings was exem- 
plary. More than five years after I left this cir- 
cuit, I crossed Long Island Sound to be present 
at the dedication of a new church among my old 
friends. I heard that Aunt Jane (as she was 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



147 



familiarly called by young and old) was near her 
end. Hastening to her room, I found her speech- 
less — possibly insensible ; and while my voice 
was lifted up in prayer by her dying bed, the 
invisible messengers from the court of her Father 
bore her ransomed spirit to His royal palace. 
Will the reader pray that I and mine may meet 
her in glory ? 

The name of John Summerfield has long been 
dear to the memory of the Methodist — shall I 
not say to the whole American Church ? yea, 
and to the Churches of Britain, his native island, 
also. Though I never saw him, yet I esteemed 
it a great favor to be permitted to look at some 
of the books which he had perused. This privi- 
lege I enjoyed at Rye, through the kindness of 
Mr. Summerfield's brother-in-law and sister, Mr. 
and Mrs. Blackstock, who resided in that place. 
Often, while casting my eye over those volumes, 
and listening to the interesting incidents concern- 
ing him which his friends, with mournful delight, 
would narrate, have I, in view of his glorious 
prospects of usefulness and his early death, ex- 
claimed, in the language of the Apostle, " How 
unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways 
past finding out !"* By the same kind friends, 

* I was much affected some years since when a member 
of our church in Brooklyn came to me in the yard of the 



148 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



I was permitted to peruse a short letter in their 
possession, written by that zealous, laborious, 
and prayerful servant of Christ, William Bram- 
well. His printed letters, found in his "Life," 
had often proved a blessing to me, and this spe- 
cimen of his handwriting revived the good im- 
pressions which had been made upon my mind. 

Stamford circuit lay contiguous to ours on the 
east, and my dear brethren E. Oldrin, W. Goth- 
ard, and S. G. Stebbins, who labored on that 
circuit, kindly visited us, and rendered us occa- 
sionally some help, which was very acceptable. 
They seemed also very thankful for the feeble 
assistance which I could render them in the revi- 
vals which occurred in Stamford, Poundridge, 
Dantown, and one or two other places in that 
circuit, while it was under brother Oldrin 's charge. 
In Stamford there was a gracious work ; and one 
of the lads converted in that revival was received, 
in 1848, into the New- York Conference as a 
traveling preacher. His name is B. M. Adams, 
the son of a local preacher, and the grandson of 
a departed soldier of the cross, John B. Matthias. 

At Dantown I preached in a plain old church 

Sands-street church, and leading me to a marble tablet, said, 
with gushing tears, M There lies the body of my spiritual fa- 
ther." I looked upon the marble, and read the name of 

SUMMEBFTELD. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



149 



which had been built in the days of Jesse Lee, 
and probably it was the place where he rejoiced 
so greatly to meet with Brush, Roberts, and 
Smith when they came from Maryland to help 
him in his labors in lSTew-Eno;land.* Hallowed 
associations were connected with that small un- 
painted sanctuaiy, which had stood unfinished 
for nearly forty years. Since I was there a new 
house of worship has been erected and finished, 
I believe not more than one or two miles from 
the former house. 

Perhaps one cause which made my brethren 
in the ministry more willing to visit us in Rye, 
was the satisfaction they enjoyed in conversing 
with our aged brother Woolsey. When they 
could draw from him a description of some good 
meeting which he had enjoyed forty years before, 
in some log-cabin of the north or the west, it 
was very interesting. The account which he 
gave of some of his journeys through the wil- 
derness in search of precious souls, for whom 
Christ died, was well calculated to stir up our 
zeal and increase our courage.f 

While I resided in Rye that melancholy ca- 

Q See Stevens' Memorials of Methodism, p. 66. 

f An interesting narrative of Mi*. W.'s labors and travels 
may be found in "The Supernumerary," for sale by Lane 
and Scott, New- York. Price, 30 cents. 



150 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



tastrophe occurred, the burning of the steamer 
Lexington on Long Island Sound, occasioning 
the awful death of very many individuals. I 
thought it my duty in a few places to preach 
discourses with special reference to that painful 
occurrence, and to make it the occasion of solemn 
warning and exhortation. 

One of the most joyful seasons which I expe- 
rienced in preaching the word of life during the 
term of my labor in Westchester county was in 
Greenburgh, where Rev. J. A. Sillick resided. 
My subject was Paul and Silas in the Philippian 
jail. The revival then in progress at that place 
was well calculated to encourage brother Sillick's 
heart. I saw but little of the good work myself, 
being there but a few days ; but the accounts 
which I heard were very cheering. In this re- 
vival Rufus C. Putney (now a minister of the 
New- York Conference) was brought to the know- 
ledge of the truth. 

In '38 and '39 I attended five camp-meetings : 
two on Long Island, two in Sing Sing, and one 
in New-Prospect, near Paterson, N. J. At one 
of these camp-meetings we met with our aged 
sister in Christ, Mrs. Margaret Prior, of New- 
York. My wife had known and esteemed her 
for six or seven years, and at this camp -meeting 
persuaded her to return with us in the sloop 



OF ELBERT OSBOKX. 



151 



which came from the camp -ground to Rye. A 
sermon was preached on board of the vessel by 
Mr. Martindale, and one soul professed to find 
peace in believing while the minister was preach- 
ing. Mrs. Prior spent two weeks with us. Her 
holy walk with God, and her serious, yet cheer- 
ful and kind conversation, made us delight in her 
company, and led us to pray that we might fol- 
low her as she followed Christ. Those of my 
readers who have perused that excellent little 
book entitled " Walks of Usefulness, or Remi- 
niscences of Mrs. M. Prior," will remember her 
zeal in doing good to the poor, both in relieving 
their temporal wants and giving them useful ad- 
vice. A poor man, traveling on foot from New- 
Haven to New- York, called at my house in Rye 
for food, and was supplied while Mrs. P. was 
there. This friend of the friendless improved 
the opportunity to caution this youth against in- 
temperance, after having, in a very kind and 
prudent manner, drawn from him an acknow- 
ledgment of having indulged in that sin. Before 
he left, she kneeled down in the hall, through 
which he passed to the outer door, and prayed 
for and with the stranger, whom she had never 
seen before, and probably would never see again 
in this world. I was absent from home ; but 
my wife, who could hear the prayer from the 



152 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



room where she was sitting, remarked that no 
mother could have prayed more fervently for an 
only son than she prayed for that poor wanderer. 

I was induced to attend the camp-meeting at 
New-Prospect, N. J., by the kind invitation of 
my friend Samuel Halsted, of Mew- York, who 
had some acquaintance with the preachers and 
members in that part of the vineyard of the Lord. 
It was his delight, when his business and the 
cares of his family permitted, to go out in the 
country, and especially to the tented grove, to 
worship God and labor for the salvation of souls. 
I rejoice to believe that he is still not weaiy in 
well-doing. The kindness of the New:- Jersey 
preachers and people fully equaled the expecta- 
tions which I had formed from brother Halsted's 
remarks. Among these kind friends I well re- 
member were Horatio Moses, of Paterson : Rev. 
W. Burrows, then presiding elder of that dis- 
trict ; Rev. William Roberts, now missionary tu 
Oregon; and Rev. Mulford Day. then laboring 
in that part of iSTew- Jersey. 

I had scarcely reached the ground before l 
was requested by brother Roberts to go with 
him into a prayer-meeting, where a young wo- 
man was crying for mercy. "It is a very inte- 
resting case," said he, "as she is the daughter 
of an excellent minister, who died when she was 



OF ELBEIII OSEOIiX. 



153 



but a child. " I inquired his name, and learned 
that it was John Robertson. _ My feelings were 
much moved, for I had often heard him spoken 
of with affection eight years before this, when I 
preached in the region between Pittsfield and 
Albany. I had there heard a pious Christian in 
love-feast say, "Twenty-two years ago, when 
that dear man of God, John Robertson, was 
praying for me, the Lord converted my soul." 
I had read in the Minutes of Conference the 
account of his peaceful death, but knew nothing 
of his family till I found his daughter pleading 
for the blessing of God at this camp -meeting. 
The God of her father met her in mercy, and 
blessed her ; and, if I mistake not, her sister 
sought and obtained an interest in Christ at the 
same meeting. I think it was here that I formed 
a very pleasing acquaintance with Rev. Henry 
Bcehm, for many years the traveling companion 
of Bishop Asbuiy. He still lives, (March, 1849,) 
and has recently gratified the readers of the 
Christian Advocate with a sketch of former days. 

The second revival which took place in Rye 
while I resided there, was rendered more inte- 
resting to me by the conversion of my eldest 
daughter. In this meeting, as well as on other 
occasions, my friend S. Halstead, with other 
friends from New- York, came out to labor with 



154 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



us. Their help was the more necessary at this 
time, because my want of health kept me at 
home part of the time. My colleagues, too, 
could not be there constantly, on account of 
their duties in other parts of the circuit. At 
the close of an excellent meeting, on the evening 
of a certain Sabbath when I had been detained 
by indisposition, brother H. came to my room 
rejoicing in the displays of mercy which he had 
witnessed, and shouting the praises of God. 

Before I left this circuit, the man who resided 
where Thomas Paine formerly dwelt professed 
conversion. The very room where that noted 
infidel used to read and write has been my bed- 
chamber ; and there I have sung with deep emo- 
tion, in my favorite time of Old Hundred, these 
lines : — 

"Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 
Does his successive journeys run ; 
His kingdom spread from shore to shore, 
Till moons shall wax and wane no more." 

It was very pleasant to see the zeal and liberality 
of our brethren and sisters of this circuit in the 
missionary cause, manifested by giving, in one 
year, more than two hundred dollars to that 
important and benevolent object. 

Besides the brethren whom I have already 
named as having assisted us in our gospel labors, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



155 



I would gratefully mention the names of some 
others whom I recollect as being occasional fel- 
low-laborers with us ; namely, J. B. Stratton, 
J. Lindsey, S. D. Ferguson, N. Bangs, G. Coles, 
E. E. Griswold, S. L. Stillman, J. L. Dickerson, 
B. Creagh, A. S. Francis, S. C. Perry, and -J. 
Da vies. 

In the spring of 1840 that distinguished Eng- 
lish minister, Robert Newton, visited America. 
At the anniversaries of the Methodist Missionary 
Society, in the Green-street church, and of the 
American Bible Society, in the Broadway Taber- 
nacle, I was charmed and melted by his simple, 
yet powerful eloquence ; and thousands around 
me seemed to be carried away by the same re- 
sistless flood. But perhaps I was benefited more 
by a sermon which he preached from these words, 
" Beloved, now are we the sons of God," &c, 
than by anything else which I heard from his 
hps. Never can I forget the solemn manner in 
which he urged the importance of ascertaining 
that we are " now " " the sons of God." " I do 
not ask you," said he, " what you were once, but 
what are you now f Satan was once an angel of 
light ; but what does that avail him now that he 
is ■ reserved in everlasting chains under darkness 
unto the judgment of the great day ?' " 

Immense crowds flocked to hear Mr. Newton 



156 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



in every place he visited. In one instance the 
house was completely filled ; and a vast crowd 
being without anxious to hear him, he consented 
to preach first to them, and then entered the 
church and delivered a discourse to those within. 
I have often thought of an expression which it 
is said that he used when the calls upon him for 
ministerial labor were frequent and pressing : — 
" There are two things," said he, " for which a 
minister should always be ready, — to preachy and 
to die " 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



157 



CHAPTER VIII. 
HARLEM MISSION AND FLUSHING. 

My next field of labor was called the Harlem 
Mission. It embraced four churches, one at each 
of the following places ; namely, Harlem, York- 
ville, Forty-first-street, and Twenty-seventh - 
street, in the upper part of the city of New- 
York. The whole number of members and pro- 
bationers in ail of these churches when I went 
there, in the summer of 1840, was about two 
hundred and thirty. 

While my family and myself were waiting for 
the arrival of our furniture, my kind friend, Rev. 
David Terry, with true Christian hospitality, 
made us welcome to his abode. Brother Terry 
was then superintendent of the House of Re- 
fuge, an institution very necessary and bene- 
ficial to a large city. 

The large proportion of floating population in 
the suburbs of a great metropolis, the great num- 
ber of Sabbath-breakers who pour out of the 
heart of the city by railroad, stages, and all man- 
ner of conveyance, together with many other 
circumstances, made this field of labor somewhat 
unpromising. I had the assistance of brother 



158 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



S. U. Fisher, who labored as my colleague, and 
Dr. R. Seaman, a supernumerary preacher, who 
resided at Harlem ; but as the churches gene- 
rally expected three sermons on each Sabbath, 
it was necessary to enlist considerable help from 
the local preachers in the city ; and I would 
thankfully acknowledge that this help was cheer- 
fully rendered. 

In the summer of 1840 I attended an excel- 
lent camp-meeting at Hempstead Harbor, on 
Long Island. Some account of it, which I wrote 
soon after its close, I will here transcribe. On 
the morning of Monday, August 17th, a large 
number of persons embarked in the Croton, Cap- 
tain Peck, at New-York, for the camp-ground. 
Our passage was both rapid and pleasant, and 
the people of God improved a large portion of 
the time in singing and prayer. An exhortation 
was given on board of the boat by a young local 
preacher, in which he cautioned us against many 
things which might tend to prevent our receiving 
and doing good at the camp-meeting. We were 
particularly advised not to waste our precious 
time in mere casual, desultory conversation, while 
so much was to be done for God and for precious 
souls. 

There had been public worship on the ground 
on the previous day, as a number of the friends 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



159 



were there who had been employed for a few 
days in erecting tents, &c. On Monday after- 
noon a sermon was preached, in which we were 
urged to sobriety and vigilance, because our ad- 
versary the devil was walking about seeking to 
prevent us from growing in grace, and to hinder 
us from doing good at that camp -meeting. The 
danger of being prolix in vocal prayer was also 
clearly presented to our minds. 

At this camp -meeting there appeared to be 
much less useless chit-chat among ministers and 
professors than is usual on such occasions. When 
they spent a few moments in conversing with 
each other, they were frequently heard speaking 
on the deep things of God. Some rather extra- 
ordinary efforts were made to call the attention 
of that part of the congregation who were wan- 
dering from place to place during the intervals 
between the sermons. Many were induced to 
listen to the word of exhortation and come into 
the prayer-meetings, which were numerous in 
the vast encampment. Scarcely a moment passed, 
from early dawn till ten o'clock at night, in which 
the voice of prayer and praise could not be heard 
from different parts of the consecrated grove, 
unless it was in time of preaching from the stand. 

The ministers of the gospel appeared to labor 
with great unanimity of feeling, and strong de- 



160 



PASSAGES IIS THE LIFE 



sire for the salvation of souls, and almost eveiy 
sermon seemed to be attended with an extraor- 
dinary degree of divine influence ; and the shouts 
of praise to God from the lips of his people, in- 
dicated that his word was sweet to their taste. 
Many of the sermons were short, and were fol- 
lowed by warm exhortations. 

The blessing of perfect love was a subject fre- 
quently mentioned in preaching, exhortation, and 
prayer. Meetings were repeatedly held in some 
of the smaller tents, where prayer was offered, 
especially for this blessing ; and much time was 
profitably spent by our friends in speaking of 
their exercises on this glorious subject. It is 
believed that these meetings will be remembered 
by some with great joy in another world. My 
companion and myself were powerfully blessed 
in one of these select meetings. 

The Rev. B. Griffin, who judiciously superin- 
tended the meeting, aided by the camp -meeting 
committee, was enabled to preserve very good 
order. The people generally did themselves 
much honor by their attention to decorum in this 
forest-temple of the Almighty. So powerful 
was the influence of the good Spirit on the feel- 
ings of many, that their bodily strength was sus- 
pended in some instances for hours together. 
One individual, who probably bad never attended 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



m 



a camp-meeting before, came on Monday and 
left on Tuesday ; but could not rest without 
returning to the meeting, and seeking the mercy 
of God till it was obtained. 

On Friday afternoon a sermon was preach xl 
in aid of the Bible Society, which had a power- 
ful influence on the congregation. The collec- 
tions and subscriptions amounted to one hundred 
and eighty dollars, which stmt was appropriated 
to make the venerable Bishop Roberts a life di- 
rector, and brother B. Griffin a life member, of 
the American Bible Society.* 

On the last evening when the congregation 
was collected to hear the word of life, I surveyed 
from a little eminence the vast concourse of hear- 
ers assembled beneath the beautiful branches of 
the trees, rendered still more beautiful by the 
light of numerous lamps. While gazing on this 
interesting scene, I reflected on the vast number 
that had been converted on that ground within 
a few days, and on the multitude who, in former 
years, had met with the same happy change at 
similar meetings on the same hallowed spot. 
Then my mind cast a glance still further back — 
to the days when Benjamin Abbott traveled over 

° I believe it was the Rev. Edmund S. Janes (now a bishop 
of our Church) who was so successful in piecing the cause 
of benevolence on this occasion. 



I I 



162 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

Long Island as one circuit, and Methodists were 
few and far between. I thought it quite possi- 
ble that he, or some other holy man of God in 
those days, might have bowed his knees in secret 
prayer on that very spot, as he rested for a few 
moments on his long journey from one appoint- 
ment to another. There, perhaps, he might have 
cried most earnestly, " Thy kingdom come ! — 
Thy kingdom come !" While I beheld this scene, 
and indulged these thoughts, solemn and joyful 
feelings pervaded my mind ; and the language 
of my heart was, " How goodly are thy tents, 
Jacob ! and thy tabernacles, Israel !" 

There were some of our brethren who em- 
ployed the whole of the last night in solemnly 
worshiping the prayer-hearing God of wrestling 
Jacob — of prevailing Israel. 

At three o'clock in the morning the trumpet 
was blown, and a few friends, according to re- 
quest, walked around among the tents singing 
hymns, and thus awaking, with melodious songs 
of praise, those of us who were quietly sleeping. 
After a very early breakfast, at about half-past 
five o'clock, we were called to the stand for the 
last time. Here we were permitted to spend 
some time in speaking of the goodness of God, 
and truly we felt it was good to be there. When 
the closing prayer had been offered, the congre- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



163 



gation formed themselves into a circular proces- 
sion, and passing before the stand, gave the part- 
ing hand to each of the ministers, and bade them 
a solemn farewell. 

It was thought that about two hundred and 
twenty-seven persons professed to find the par- 
doning love of God, and about eighty to receive 
the blessing of sanctification at this camp-meet- 
ing. This was the opinion of a minister from 
New- York, who made particular inquiry in each 
tent as to the number who had been specially 
blessed. Truly the text was fulfilled which was 
used on a previous Sabbath by a minister who 
preached on the ground : — " Ye shall be bap- 
tized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.' , 

While returning in the steamer to the city, we 
engaged in singing, prayer, and witnessing for 
the Lord. During these exercises one person, 
who had been seeking Jesus for three months, 
was powerfully converted to God. Surely that 
was indeed a glorious camp-meetixg.* 

We did not wholly confine ourselves to preach- 
ing in the churches of the Harlem mission ; but 
occasionally in private houses, and even in the 
open air, the word of life was proclaimed to the 

9 It was on this occasion that I gave a message to good 
old brother Horton, to be carried to Mr. Wesley in paradise. 
See Part I. of this narrative, page 114. 



164 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



people. The first special revival which we wit- 
nessed was in Harlem. The indications of mercy 
induced us to continue our meetings evening after 
evening for about four weeks. It was thought 
that twenty-five or thirty persons in that time 
bowed to the sceptre of Prince Immanuel. 

Rose Hill (as the vicinity of the church in 
Twenty-seventh-street was called) was not wholly 
destitute of showers of reviving mercy ; but the 
most powerful revival which we had during the 
year,, was in our church in Forty-first-street. 
One sermon, preached there by brother J. W. 
Redfield. a local preacher, seemed to make a 
most deep and solemn impression on the hearers. 
It is but a few weeks since I was reminded by a 
brother, who was present at that meeting, of a 
circumstance that I had forgotten which occur- 
red that evening. It was the conversion of a 
Dutch or German woman, who, with a thankful 
heart, in broken English, expressed her surprise 
in finding " dis religion r> so very good. 

In the vicinity of this church there were many 
G-eraian families, who knew but little of our lan- 
guage. When Dr. Nast, from Cincinnati, visited 
\ j w- York, he permitted me, in compliance with 
my earnest request, to make an appointment for 
him to preach one seimon, at the church in For- 
ty-first-street, to the Germans in the language 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



165 



of their fatherland. Since that time a German 
Home Mission has been established in that part 
of the city, which has been rendered a blessing 
to the German population. 

Near my residence at Rose Hill was the City 
Alms-house, where many hundreds of the poor 
received the bounty of the public. Amidst my 
other numerous duties, I endeavored to find time 
occasionally to visit that vast assemblage of the 
poor. To visit and relieve the poor is not only 
a work required by the God of mercy, but it is 
also a privilege, in the improvement of which we 
"shall be blessed in the deed." Here I met 
with an old man who had personally waited on 
Mr. Wesley. He had been a servant in some 
family in England where Wesley was entertained. 
A good old sister by the name of Brown, resid- 
ing near the church in Forty-first-street, took 
much delight in talking of the opportunity which 
she had once enjoyed of hearing Wesley preach 
in Ireland, and of receiving the consecrated bread 
and wine from his hands when they were with- 
ered by age. I have remarked that almost all 
those who have told me that they had seen John 
Wesley have mentioned the impressiveness of 
his countenance. On one occasion an old pilgrim 
remarked to me, that " even his countenance was 
a sermon." 



166 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



Several of the stationed ministers in the city 
visited the churches on our mission, rendering us 
acceptable service. In return, I likewise endea- 
vored occasionally to preach the word of life in 
their pulpits. I have always believed it advan- 
tageous for ministers frequently to exchange with 
each other, and especially to assist each other in 
times of revival. Then, surely, the Church should 
unite her forces and put on strength. 

In several of the large churches in New- York 
a meeting is held on Saturday evening, for the 
purpose of speaking of the goodness of God. 
With some little inconvenience I attended several 
of these meetings with great comfort, and I hope 
with some lasting benefit to my soul. Several 
brethren and sisters in different parts of the city 
manifested much kindness to me, especially on 
the occasion of a donation visit at my own 
dwelling. 

The churches under my care were deeply in 
debt. Great exertions were necessary to pay 
the interest, and do something toward reducing 
the principal. The minister was expected, by 
personal solicitation, to do much toward this ob- 
ject. This work has always been disagreeable 
to my feelings ; but when duty evidently required 
it I have submitted, and in so doing have been 
mercifully blessed. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



167 



At the close of the conference year we ascer- 
tained that, during the year, eighty-three persons 
had united with our societies as probationers. 
It was decided to divide the charge into two 
parts, putting two churches in each section. 
The brethren in the more able section, embracing 
Rose Hill church, concluded no longer to look 
for aid from the Missionary Society. The other 
section received a small appropriation for one or 
two years longer. 

It was some time in March, 1841, while I was 
standing in the Book-Room at New- York, con- 
versing with a brother, that a minister, who had 
recently officiated as chaplain to the Senate of 
the United States, entered the building, and 
passed by us into another room. " That is Mr. 
Cookman !" said I to an intimate friend of mine, 
who was a clerk in the Book-Room. " Is it pos- 
sible !" said he ; "is that George G. Cookman, 
the chaplain of Congress ? One so unassuming 
in his appearance, so very plain in his dress !" 
Some years before this I had heard Mr. C. preach 
a sermon, that I shall not soon forget, from this 
text : — " The word of God is not bound." One 
single remark in his introduction I will endeavor 
to give to the reader as correctly as I can : — 
" When Paul wrote this epistle he was chained 
in prison, under sentence of death. Methinks I 



168 



PASSAGES IN THE LIEE 



see him as he dips the pen in the ink. The chain 
rattles on his arm as he moves his hand. But 
the Apostle remembers that ' the word of God is 
not bound/ They may chain the messenger, but 
they cannot chain the message. That will ' run 
and be glorified.' " A few days after I saw him, 
he embarked for Europe, on a short visit to his 
aged father. Before he left he said to his little 
children, " If your father should sink in the ocean, 
you must meet him in the paradise of God." 
Soon after he left America, I met a Presbyterian 
lady who had heard him preach his last sermon 
in the capital. She spoke very highly of that 
discourse, which was founded on a passage of 
Scripture including these words : — " The sea gave 
up the dead that were in it." Little did we then 
think that the steamship President, in which he 
had sailed, would never be seen or heard of again, 
and the eloquent voice of G. G. Oookman be 
heard on earth no more. 

In 1841 our conference met in the Allen-street 
church, in New- York. The same scruples of 
conscience which I had felt in 1836, '37, and 
'38, now led me to ask for some new field of 
labor. Accordingly, I was appointed to the 
pleasant village of Flushing,, on Long Island, 
about eight or nine miles from New- York. There 
had been a very powerful revival of religion in 



0¥ ELBERT OSBORN. 



169 



this place in the summer of 1839. Many who 
were converted in that revival were still pressing 
on to the heavenly country ; but there were oth- 
ers who had wandered from the fountain of living- 
waters. One of our class-leaders was a brother 
with whom I had been permitted to labor in other 
places, and with much satisfaction. In the sum- 
mer of that year I went to a camp-meeting at 
Jamesport, on the east part of the island, about 
eighty miles from Xew-York. It was good to 
be there. 

During the year some were awakened ; and 
occasionally we heard the cry of the mourner, 
and the shout of the convert at our altar. Several 
ministers visited and assisted us, among whom 
were Heman Bangs, John Poisal, W. C. Hawley, 
and J. W. Redfield. 

At a place called Middle Village, in Newtown, 
not far from Flushing, there was a blessed work 
of God in the autumn of 1841. Some part of 
this good work I was permitted to witness. In 
one instance the cry of the mourner was heard 
in the street, as he returned from the church to 
his dwelling. On a certain evening a sermon 
was preached from this text : — " Because there 
is wrath, beware lest he take thee away with his 
stroke, and then a great ransom cannot deliver 
thee." The possibility of sudden death was 



170 PASSAGES m THE LIFE 

dwelt upon by the minister who preached, and 
by him who followed in exhortation. The sinner 
was urged to prepare for death, that if it came 
suddenly he might find sudden death to be sud- 
den glory, and not sudden, everlasting destruc- 
tion. Before noon of the next day a man, who 
had heard those remarks, fell suddenly to the 
floor and quickly expired. 

In this neighborhood resided two old disciples 
of Christ, Joseph Harper and his wife, who have 
since departed to their blessed home. Mr. Har- 
per was a man of deep humility and sincere piety, 
but rather prone, I should think, to write bitter 
things against himself. I believe his father's 
house was honored by the preaching of Captain 
Webb, one of the pioneers of Methodism in 
America. Mrs. Harper was a woman of uncom- 
mon zeal, simplicity, and courage in the cause 
of God. She had been a faithful follower of 
Christ for half a century, having been converted 
to God while Father Abbott and John B. Mat- 
thias were praying for her. She possessed a 
readiness of utterance which made it very inte- 
resting to hear her joyful testimonies for God. 
She was what is sometimes called a shouting 
Christian ; and her daily walk evinced the sin- 
cerity of her heart, and the genuineness of her 
religion. A minister of several years standing in 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



171 



the church informed me that, when a youth, he 
boarded in her family about five years. In all 
that time he never discovered any manifestation 
of feeling or temper in her which he thought 
inconsistent with the perfect love of God. While 
favored with the very kind hospitality of these 
aged servants of Christ, I had reason to believe 
that she rose very early to read and pray. To 
camp -meetings they were both much attached ; 
and with steps trembling through age, they would 
find their way from the tent to the stand at the 
hour of preaching. When the sermon was closed, 
the prayer-meeting was eagerly sought and en- 
joyed. The wealth and elevation to which their 
children* attained, appeared not in the least to 
excite the vanity of these humble, aged Chris- 
tians. They have finished their course. They 
" rest from their labors, and their works do follow 
them." 

A larger house of worship in Flushing, and in 
a more suitable location, being thought necessary, 
subscriptions for that object were obtained ; but 
the expense being more than could well be sus- 
tained entirely by the small society in that place, 
I was requested to obtain some aid, if possible, 
from our friends in New- York, many of whom 

One of them, Hon. James Harper, has since been mayor 
of the city of New- York. 



172 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



were well acquainted with our circumstances in 
Flushing. While attending to this somewhat 
embarrassing duty, I was invited to labor with 
some of my brethren in the ministry where God 
was reviving his work. In the Green-street 
church, then under the care of brother H. Bangs, 
I enjoyed some very happy seasons. 

Perhaps none of the Methodist churches in 
the city were favored with a greater revival of 
religion in that year than the Willet-street church, 
then under the care of Rev. Marvin Richardson. 
If my recollection be correct, not far from two 
hundred and fifty were admitted on probation as 
the fruits of that revival. I find, by reference 
to the Minutes, that the net increase for the year 
was two hundred and eighteen. I was peraiit- 
ted to witness a few of the glorious scenes in that 
revival, which was rendered a blessing to my 
soul. I will here add, that in the course of the 
following year the new church in Flushing was 
erected ; and my prayer is, that it may long be 
filled with the glory of God, and honored with 
the awakening, conversion, and sanctification of 
souls. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



178 



CHAPTER IX. 

SMITHTOWN CIRCUIT. 

After some very unpleasant disappointments as 
to conveyance, I arrived with my family and fur- 
niture at Smithtown early in June, 1842. The 
journey was performed by water. Smithtown 
is about fifty miles east of the city of New- York, 
on Long Island. My colleague was Timothy C. 
Youngs, a brother who was in the second year 
of his ministerial probation. We preached at 
Smithtown Landing, Smithtown Branch, Hopo- 
gues, Comae, Stony Brook, Port Jefferson, East 
Middle Island, Westfield, and the Ronconkamy 
Pond. Brothers Hammond and Worth, local 
preachers on the circuit, helped us in our regular 
appointments. My residence was in Smithtown 
Branch, where, at that time, there was no Meth- 
odist church. Hence, for two years, I had the 
privilege of preaching at stated seasons, in my 
" own hired house," the gospel of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. In the course of the summer after my 
removal to Smithtown, a camp-meeting was held 
at Hempstead Harbor. It was under the super- 
intendence of the presiding elder of the district, 
Mr. Martindale. The last day of the meeting 



174 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

was a memorable occasion. The sermon, preached 
by an aged brother, seemed to be attended with 
more of the melting influences of the good Spirit 
than I have often witnessed. My dear colleague 
received a great blessing. At the close of the 
sermon, in compliance with the request of the 
presiding elder, I gave an invitation to persons 
desirous of finding pardon to manifest it by com- 
ing forward and kneeling down. The numbers 
who came, the readiness with which they came, 
and the earnestness which they manifested after 
they had come, were truly affecting to the pious 
beholder. In the course of about two hours it 
was thought that about twenty souls were con- 
verted to God, and other mourners probably were 
blessed after they left the ground. 

Another camp-meeting was held a few weeks 
later in Jamesport, near Riverhead. Here I met 
with an old veteran of the cross from Middle- 
town, Conn., the Rev. Daniel Burrows, a local 
preacher of our Church. The first annual con- 
ference ever held in Connecticut, and one of the 
first held in New-England, met in brother Bur- 
rows' house, in 1795. For a very interesting de- 
scription of this conference, see page 335 of 
Stevens' Memorials of Methodism. Brother Bur- 
rows was a member of Congress from Connecti- 
cut many years ago ; but the simple religion of 



OF ELBEKT OSBORN. 



175 



Jesus Christ was to him the most pleasing theme 
of conversation. My interview with him at this 
camp-meeting, and a letter which I received from 
him a few months afterward, had a very benefi- 
cial influence on my religious feelings. 

Soon after this camp-meeting I was somewhat 
afflicted with a cough, which continued for seve- 
ral months, and during a part of the time pre- 
vented me from laboring as much in the vineyard 
of the Lord as I could have desired. It is pos- 
sible that preaching too loud in the evening air 
at the camp -meeting was the means of commenc- 
ing this affliction. 

A protracted meeting in Comae, held, I think, 
in October, resulted in the addition of twenty- 
three probationers to the society. At this meet- 
ing we had the assistance of Rev. O. Starr, and 
my nephew, Rev. David Osborn. After this 
meeting, in consequence of my troublesome 
cough, I was prevented from laboring in public 
at all for about six weeks. Many of my friends 
and neighbors perhaps thought that my health 
would never be restored. I considered it some- 
what uncertain, but was enabled to rejoice in the 
blessed truth, " The Lord reigneth." 

In November or December, having partially 
recovered, I went with our presiding elder to 
Riverhead, where my nephew was residing, to 



176 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



attend a protracted meeting. Here I met bro- 
thers Stout and Redfield. Though, from want 
of health, I was able to do but little myself, yet 
the Lord blessed the labors of others* and a num- 
ber were brought to the knowledge of the truth. 

In a place called East Middle Island, in the 
town of Brookhaven, a small Methodist church 
had been built a few months before I weitf to 
that circuit. Before this house was built, the 
little company of brethren used to meet in the 
school-house belonging to the public. At length 
prejudice rose so high, that when brother Mar- 
tindale had an appointment to preach there, the 
house was locked against him and his hearers ; 
but as the evening was pleasant, he preached in 
the street to the listening company. The society, 
though only about sixteen in number, now thought 
it best to build a small house of worship. As 
the population was not very dense, it was thought 
that if they could build a house large enough to 
accommodate two hundred persons, it would be 
far better than none. A series of meetings (con- 
tinuing perhaps ten or fifteen days) had followed 
the dedication, and resulted in the conversion of 
a few souls. Soon after this six persons joined 
the little church on probation, then under the 
charge of my predecessor, Rev. S. W. King. It 
was nearly a year subsequent to the dedication, 



Of ELBERT OSBORN. 



177 



when we resolved to hold another protracted 
meeting in that church. 

Some of God's people, and among them two 
or three ministers who were acquainted in the 
place, had strong faith that a revival would crown 
the special effort. We commenced our meeting 
in the latter part of December, 1842, with a 
small company, on a week-day afternoon, by an 
address founded on this motto : — " The battle is 
the Lord's." The people of God in adjacent 
places had been previously requested to pray 
especially for the blessing of God upon this meet- 
ing. It was now a question with us whether we 
should hold our meetings on each successive day 
and evening, or only on every evening. Fears 
were expressed that the number of hearers would 
be very small, except in the evening. At length 
we determined to meet, at least for a season, both 
in the day at eleven o'clock, and at half-past six 
in the evening. The event proved that our fears 
were groundless. 

At an early period an opportunity was given 
for Christians to confess their faults, acknowledge 
the goodness of God, tell of their desires for per- 
fect love, and their solicitude for the salvation 
of others. These short exercises, which gene- 
rally were near the close of each meeting, were 
very beneficial during the whole course of the 
12 



1Tb 



PASSAGES IM THE LIFE 



revival. It was not long after the commence- 
ment of the meeting before one individual after 
another, in compliance with our invitation, mani- 
fested a desire to flee from the wrath to come. 
The first person who professed to find mercy was 
a young married woman. Not long before our 
meeting she had heard one of the ministers preach., 
and then remarked that she had never heard one 
of that class of ministers preach before, and never 
wished to hear one again ; yet now, through the 
blessing of God upon the labors of these same 
ministers, she was brought to rejoice in the Sa- 
viour. Now she expressed very strong desires 
for the conversion of those members of her fa- 
ther's family who were yet out of Christ. 

Notwithstanding we could obtain but a small 
amoimt of ministerial help from a distance, yet 
the people continued to throng the house day 
after day and evening after evening. My state 
of health was not such as to admit of my labor- 
ing much in the evenings ; but on nearly every 
day my feeble voice was lifted up in my Master's 
cause. Brother Youngs was able and willing to 
do more than I could in this blessed work. The 
brethren and sisters in the place rejoiced to see 
their Christian friends from Port Jefferson, West- 
field, Patchogue, &c, come in occasionally to 
worship with them. I can never forget the fer- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



179 



vent prayers, warm exhortations, and especially 
the animated devotional singing of some of those 
brethren. may I hear them sing the sweet 
song of redeeming love in the kingdom of God ! 

Will the reader permit me to be more minute 
in detailing circumstances and describing parti- 
cular cases in this revival than is usual in such 
narratives ? And yet many individual cases (per- 
haps equally interesting with some that I shall 
mention) must be left unnoticed, through fear 
of prolixity. 

One man, more than fifty years old, who had 
at times tried to rest on the doctrine of universal 
salvation, was seriously and affectionately inter- 
rogated on the subject of religion by a minister 
of the gospel. The preacher, having met with 
him at a neighbor's house, learned, by inquiry 
of him, that he was somewhat serious. Soon 
afterward this man rose up for our prayers in 
the congregation. On the following evening he 
was advised to pray in his family, and attempted 
to do so. The next day he told one of the min- 
isters that he had slept but little through the 
previous night, from a deep sense of his guilt 
and depravity. He added, that in trying to look 
to God he had been relieved of his burden, though 
he had not yet received a clear witness of his 
acceptance, nor did he feel any transports of joy. 



180 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



One of the ministers lodged under his roof that 
night. In the morning he came to the door of 
the minister's bed-chamber, inquired if he had 
been sufficiently refreshed by sleep, and receiv- 
ing an affirmative answer, he said, " Then I wish 
you would get up and help me praise the Lord." 
" Do you feel like praising the Lord ?" inquired 
the minister. " Yes," was the reply, " I am full ! 
I am full ! and had I not suppressed my feelings, 
I should have kept you and my family awake in 
the night by praising the Lord. Night before 
last I could not sleep for distress of mind, and 
last night I could not sleep for joy. Now I 
could enjoy heaven, but I could not have enjoyed 
it before." That was a happy morning to his 
pious wife. "This," said she, "is what I have 
been praying for nearly thirty years." 

A certain woman (who had once professed re- 
ligion) rose for prayers, and afterward invited 
two or three Christian friends to dine at her 
house. To them she manifested her sorrow for 
her unfaithfulness in the service of her God, and 
her anxiety for the conversion of her husband. 
One of the Christians present conversed with the 
husband for a few minutes on the all-important 
subject, and he manifested some degree of con- 
cern about his soul. In a few days this concern 
evidently increased, and he at length acknow- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



181 



ledged it by going to the mourners' seat. He 
was advised to pray in his family, and following 
this advice he gained the blessing, and rejoiced 
in the pardoning mercy of God. A younger 
brother* and sister of this convert, residing un- 
der the same roof, were soon induced to seek the 
great salvation ; and both of them were enabled 
to rejoice with their brother and his wife in pos- 
session of the pearl of great price. 

A man, whose wife was a follower of Christ, 
had long sought the favor of the Divine Being, 
and in different revivals he had asked the prayers 
of Christians. Unwilling to give up the pursuit, 
he was found among the mourners in this revi- 
val ; but, while others were blessed, he remained 
day after day without the desired witness. After 
the close of one of the meetings, a minister per- 
ceived this man in some difficulty with his horse 
and wagon, and assisted him out of this diffi- 
culty. He had proceeded but a few yards be- 
fore he encountered other obstructions, and again 
the minister laid hold of the carriage and ren- 
dered the needful assistance. Taking occasion, 
from this circumstance, to encourage his friend 
in seeking the Lord, he said, " There is nothing 
like perseverance, Mr. H., nothing like perseve- 

Q This young man died in the Lord before I left Smith- 
town circuit. 



182 



PASSAGES IN THE LIEE 



ranee in getting out of a bad situation into a 
good one." The mourner's looks indicated that 
he understood the designed application. On the 
next Sabbath the house of worship was so full, 
that many who could not get in listened at the 
open door and window. The same minister, 
after having preached and commenced the pray- 
er-meeting, was obliged to leave the house, so 
as to reach his afternoon appointment in season. 
As the most ready way to escape quickly and 
quietly from such a crowd he stepped out of the 
window, and here he met his awakened friend H. 
standing without. u Go in, my friend," said the 
minister, " and join with the other mourners in 
praying for a blessing." Gladly did he enter 
the window, to unite with the praying company ; 
and in a few days the minister met with his friend 
H., and found him peacefully trusting in the 
merits of Christ. 

One of the preachers, in passing the house of 
a pious widow of another denomination, embraced 
this opportunity to call there and converse with 
the family. This short call, perhaps, removed 
some prejudices from the good woman's mind, 
and was the means of fastening conviction on the 
consciences of her two daughters. One of them 
remarked, after she found peace in believing, 
"When I sought the Lord, I made up my mind 



01" ELBERT OSBORX. 



188 



to give up my young companions ; but now they 
all appear to be coming to the blessed Saviour 
too."* A younger daughter of this family also 
embraced religion very shortly after her sister's 
conversion. In a few days then married sister, 
living six or seven miles distant, came up to her 
mother's house on a visit. Before her return, 
she gave up her heart to God ; and finding re- 
ligion to be a glorious treasure, she " with a loud 
voice olorified God." 

It may be here remarked, that one of the most- 
efficient means of carrying on this blessed work 
was the testimony of God's goodness, given by 
young converts. At the close of almost every 
meeting an opportunity was given for them briefly 
to witness for their Lord and Master. This op- 
portunity was improved by many, and their tes- 
timonies were evidently attended with the divine 
blessing. Xor did they confine then efforts to 
those meetings. Frequently they spoke to their 
friends and neighbors personally on that subject 
which had become so dear to their hearts. Some 
of them immediately saw good effects resulting 

° In this case, and in many others -where I have attempted, 
in my account of this revival, to give the expressions of the 
converts and their friends, I do not pretend to remember 
every word and phrase precisely ; but I have given the lan- 
guage as nearly as I could recollect it, assisted by memoran- 
da, made shortly after the events took place. 



154 



PASSAGES LN IHE Lxxl 



from their endeavors, and with thankful hearts 
and streaming eves ':; eheld tliei: lear friends 
coming over on the side of truth and religion. 

One young woman, who was convened in the 
early part of the revival, felt deeply anxious for 
her unconverted father. Two ministers were in- 
vited to call and take dinner at then* house. 
Serious conversation with the father led him to 
acknowledge the realitv and importance of reli- 
gion. At length he consented to bear the cross, 
and come to the altar for prayer. At one time, 

en the crowd was so great that he could not 
Migh the aisle, he stepped over the 
seats to the mourners' bench. It was very af- 
fecting to sec a man of gray hairs, and with in- 
firm steps, pressing through difficulties to ask the 
prayers of Christians for his conversion. He did 
not seek in vain. As I entered the house of 
prayer, not long after this, the crood news greeted 
my ear that this aged friend was rejoicing in God 
with his praying daughter. This man. after his 
conversion, improved almost every opportunity 
which he had to witness for his kind Deliverer. 
Often would he exhort the young not to defer 
repentance as he had done. In so doing they 
would debar themselves from true happiness for 
the best part of their lives, and run the fearful 
risk of dying unprepared, and suffering the bitter 



01 ELBERT OSBORK. 



188 



pangs of eternal death. They had no certainty 
that they would live half as many years as he 
had done. They might be cut off suddenly. 

In this revival, the prayers which had been 
offered in past years by those who had gone 
home to paradise, appeared to be graciously an- 
swered. I have no doubt/' said a widowed 
lady just converted to God, " that my departed 
husband, while living, has sometimes spent the 
whole night in prayer to God for my poor soul. 
I felt almost constrained, when I found mercy, 
to go to his grave and ^veep tears of gratitude 
for his prayers." 

Another remarkable case, among those con- 
verted at this meeting, was a man who had long 
been a profane swearer. He was the child of 
pious parents, one of whom had passed into the 
heavens, and the other was waiting, amidst the 
iniinnities of old age, for the conversion of her 
son. I believe that he had never been seen at 
either of the houses of worship in that place be- 
fore this revival. A neighbor of his, who went 
to the altar as a seeker, accidentally lost his hat 
in the crowd, and was looking for it at the close 
of the services. This man said, (probably in 
sport.) ••' Xever mind your hat. if you have set 
out for the kingdom of heaven, never mind your 
hat." A verv different exclamation was uttered 



186 



PASSAGES IK THE LIFE 



by him a few days afterward. When the min- 
ister asked those who wished the prayers of 
Christians to draw near the altar, this man rose 
up, crying out with a loud voice, " Pray for me !" 
I think it was on the next evening that both he 
and his eldest daughter were set at liberty by 
divine power and grace.* " All the days of my 
life, thus far, have been week-days," said he, 
"and now I feel as though I wanted to spend 
all the remaining days of my life as Sabbaths to 
the Lord." On a certain day, soon after his con- 
version, he had some very disagreeable manual 
labor to perform ; but instead of such profane 
expressions of impatience as he formerly would 
have uttered under such circumstances, his hps 
were now employed in praising that Holy N ame 
which he had so often profaned. 

One of the converts was a native of Ireland, 
and had been educated a Roman Catholic. At 
the first meeting which he attended in this revi- 
val he felt a strong dislike to the preacher ; yet 
on the next evening he ventured to go again, 
when his heart was touched, melted, and, I be- 
lieve, comforted also. This was on a Wednesday 
evening. Not long after this, he said in one of 
our meetings, " I have often been to the priest 

5 Nearly a year after this revival, I think, his wife became 
a Christian. 



OF ELBERT OSBOEN. 



187 



with money to confess my sins, but I never got 
such a pardon before as I got last Wednesday 
evening. My worldly disappointments have led 
me sometimes to wish myself back again in my 
native land ; but now I thank God that I ever 
came to America, for here I have found better 
riches than I knew anything about when I left 
Ireland." 

So great was the anxiety of the people to at- 
tend the meetings, that many were constrained 
to return home for want of a place even to stand 
in the house. Our brethren of another denomi- 
nation, who occupied a larger house of worship 
in the neighborhood, invited us to remove the 
meeting to their house ; but as a number had 
been awakened and some converted in our small 
church, and Christians had become accustomed 
to work there in this revival, it was feared that 
the minds of those most deeply concerned might 
be diverted from the great object before them 
by removing the meeting to another place. We 
therefore continued to meet in our humble sanc- 
tuary, which had so often been made a Bethel to 
our souls ; and it was very gratifying to us to 
see Christians of different denominations, who 
met with us, bearing a part in the exercises of 
divine worship, and laboring to lead sinners to 
Christ. 



188 



PASSAGES EN THE LIFE 



A young school-teacher dismissed bib school 
for a few days, that he might attend the meet- 
ings in the day as well as in the evening ; remark- 
ing to his pious, widowed mother that his anxiety 
of niindwas such that he could not do justice to 
his scholars. On the next Saturday evening, 
after returning home from the church, he re the d 
to the barn for private prayer. When he came 
into the house, his mother ascertained, by inqui- 
ry, that he had not received a satisfactory evi- 
dence of his acceptance, and gave him such ad- 
vice as her piety and maternal affection dictated. 
After he retired to his chamber, his mother, who 
was listening near the door with deep solicitude, 
heard his supplications for a blessing. At length 
she heard him say, "I shall be there at nine 
o'clock," alluding to a prayer-meeting* appointed 
in the chmch for the next morning before preach- 
ing. It was not long before the parent thought 
she heard him call her. Opening the door at 
the foot of the stairs, she inquired, " G****, did 
you call me ?" " Yes, mother, I did," was the 
reply ; "I want you to come up here and help 
me praise the Lord ! This chamber is the most 
beautiful place that I ever saw." This mother 

* Almost invariably, the sermon was preceded and suc- 
ceeded by a short prayer-meeting. In this case it was ap- 
pointed at an earlier hour than usual. 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



189 



had six children ; and this son, her youngest 
child, was the first one who had made known to 
her that he had found Jesus. Her feelings may 
better be imagined than described. 

One of the ministers accepted the invitation 
of an unconverted young man to spend a night 
at his house. In conversation, he learned that 
his hospitable friend was seriously impressed with 
a sense of the importance of religion. In the 
evening he had the pleasure of seeing him pre- 
sent himself for the prayers of the people of 
God ; yet he returned to his house destitute of 
a sense of the Saviour's love. But in the morn- 
ing he could tell his guest the good news that, 
during the night, Jesus had manifested himself 
in mercy to his soul. In the course of the morn- 
ing, I called to see the minister who lodged there. 
As I approached the door, I heard the minister 
praying very earnestly for some awakened, seek- 
ing soul ; and supposing him to refer to the gen- 
tleman of the house, I felt a great desire that 
the petition might be answered. But great was 
my joyful surprise when, on the opening of the 
door at the close of prayer, I learned from the 
minister that his host was already rejoicing in 
the Lord. His brother-in-law, Mr. S., was there, 
and he was the mourner for whom the minister 
had just been praying. Ko was an amiable young 



190 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



man, and appeared to be under deep concern of 
mind. It seems that, seeing the heaven-born 
peace and joy of his brother-in-law, who had just 
found the Lord, he was led to feel the necessity 
of seeking Jesus himself. While his sister looked 
with pity on her unforgiven and sorrowful bro- 
ther, she could rejoice with her husband, who 
had just begun to taste a Saviour's love. It 
was a scene deeply affecting to every person 
present. 

Mr. S. went to the house of prayer at eleven 
o'clock, and willingly came forward as a seeker 
of religion when the invitation was given ; but 
he remarked to a pious person, who conversed 
with him while the congregation was singing, 
that he thought there was but a small chance 
for him, and that everything looked dark and 
discouraging. I believe it was at the close of 
the services of the next evening that he went to 
a Christian friend, who had taken a deep interest 
in his welfare, and begged him to remember him 
in his private devotions. He was asked if he felt 
discouraged in seeking, and replied that he did 
not by any means. The next morning, just as 
the preacher was about to commence the pulpit 
exercises, Mr. S. approached the pulpit stairs, 
and told the servant of God that he, too, was 
happy in the Lord. The preacher and people 



OF ELBERT OSBOKX. 



191 



rejoiced with him, and I think imraediateiy sung 
the doxology — 

"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." 

And as, in days of old, Andrew found his own 
brother Simon, and told ban that he had u found 
the Messias." so this man soon told his uncon- 
verted brother what great things God had done 
for him. These brothers were partners in busi- 
ness, and their dwellings were very near together. 
Mr. S. could speak with assurance of the reality 
of expeiimental religion. His brother, who had 
the utmost confidence in his veracity, consented 
to believe in the reality of the change, and in its 
heavenly origin. Now, like a consistent man, 
he sought the same blessing in the same hirmble 
maimer ; and in less than a week from the time 
when Mr. S. first went to the altar for prayer, 
lie and his brother were rejoicing together in the 
smiles of a forgiving God. Their pleasant man- 
sions became houses of prayer ; and while they 
thankfully enjoyed the blessings of this life, they 
could look forward to a better and far more 
glorious abode on high. 

A certain man, about forty-five years of age, 
who had been very active and influential ir po- 
litical matters, but very inattentive to the con- 
cerns of religion, was led by curiosity to attend 



192 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



some of our meetings in this good revival. He 
possessed a considerable share of worldly pro- 
perty, kept a public house of entertainment, and, 
but a few years previous, had been sheriff of that 
county. His pious mother, a member of the 
Baptist Church, had been praying for his con- 
version for about forty years. After attending 
the meeting a few times, his mind became some- 
what seriously impressed ; but he felt disposed 
to shake off his solemn feelings, if possible, and 
even resorted to a more free use of ardent spirits, 
as a means of driving uneasy feelings from his 
mind. But such was God's amazing mercy to 
this rebel against his government, that (to use 
his own language) the more he drank the more 
sober he seemed to feel. At length he sought 
an opportunity of conversing with my colleague, 
acknowledged that he occasionally felt the ne- 
cessity of religion, and said that if his feelings 
had been as tender that evening as they were a 
few hours before, he would have gone forward 
with mourning penitents. The report of this 
conversation waked up strong desires in the hearts 
of Christians for the conversion of one who had 
been so active in worldly affairs, and so far from 
religion. On the next day business called him 
away to the seat of justice in that county, and 
some feared that this might dissipate his serious 



OF ELBERT OBBORN. 



193 



feelings ; but God ordered it otherwise. One 
of the judges of the court perceiving, from his 
countenance, that his mind was uneasy, ventured 
to inquire into the cause, and to introduce the 
subject of religion. Having lately come out on 
the Lord's side himself, he urged this aw r akened 
man earnestly and perseveringly to seek the bless- 
ing of God. In the mean time, Christians were 
fervently praying in their closets that the good 
Spirit would continue to move on his heart. 
After his return he resumed his attendance on 
the protracted meeting, and ventured to rise up 
in the congregation as a subject of their prayers. 
His friend, the judge, soon wrote him a letter, 
advising him to suffer nothing to hinder him from 
entering in at the strait gate. 

It was a joyful morning to my soul when I 
heard that the inn-keeper had appeared to be 
deeply impressed on the previous evening, and 
had gone to the mourners' seat. On the follow- 
ing day he rose up again for the intercessions of 
the righteous, at the same time inviting one of 
his former associates in folly, who was sitting by 
his side, to rise up with him, and the invitation 
was successful. On a certain evening he went 
to a man in the house of worship, with wiiom he 
had been at variance, and asked his forgiveness. 
Soon after this another interview took place be- 
13 



194 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



tween them, and all their former animosity was 
buried by mutual consent, 

Two or three days passed away, and the she- 
riff's anxiety became so great that he arose again 
and again from his bed during one night, to read 
the book of God and to plead for mercy. His 
wife, who had found pardon but a day or two 
before, was rejoicing in the Lord, and urging him 
to continue in prayer for his own soul's salva- 
tion.* At length the morning light dawned : 
one or two Christian friends, who lodged at his 
house during that night, arose: they joined in 
prayer, and soon he east himself on the merits 
of Christ, and to his joy the Sun of righteousness 
arose "with healing in his wings." 

The happiness which he found in Jesus was 
so great, that he ardently desired that his former 
companions in sin might enjoy it also. The ser- 
vice of God appeared so reasonable, that he 
could not feel willing that any of his friends 
should neglect it any longer. The individual 
whose case was first presented to his mind as the 
subject of deep solicitude was CP., Esq., Hying 
six or seven miles from him. It seemed to be a 
providential circumstance that this man should 
come up to the meeting on that very day, and 
thus give to the convert such a good opportu- 

8 Four or five years afterward she died in the faith. 



OF ELBERT OSBORX. 



195 



nity (as they met at the church) to tell him of 
the goodness of God. After he had entered the 
place of worship, and even after the religious 
exercises had commenced, (if I was rightly in- 
formed,) when any of his particular friends en- 
tered the house he could not well refrain from 
speaking aloud to them of the happy change 
which had taken place in his mind. The minis- 
ter who was to preach at that time went through 
the introductory exercises of singing and prayer, 
but was so overcome by his feelings of joy and 
gratitude that, even after he had named his text, 
he sat down, saying to another minister who was 
in the desk with him, " I cannot preach now." 
The other one then rose, and said, "Brother 
Worth says he cannot preach now, and I am not 
certain that I can ; but I will try." The sheriff 
then said that he would endeavor to be as quiet 
as possible, and some remarks were made on the 
text which had been named. 

This convert often spoke in our meetings of 
God's mercy to him when we gave opportunity 
for testimonies of this kind. Frequently he spoke 
of himself as having been one of the chief of 
sinners. u I have lived forty-five years in the 
world," said he, " enjoying almost uninterrupted 
health, and the comforts of life in abundance, 
and never thanked God for them till the morn- 



196 



PASSAGES IB TFE LIFE 



ing of day before yesterday. Is it not abomina- 
ble V Those who had known his manner of 
life, gazed. listened, wondered, and stnte :■: them 
repented and believed. Among the latter was 
Mr. P., whom I have already mentioned. Many 
others in the neighborhood were brought to re- 
pentance within a few days after the inn-keener's 
conversion. 

*• During forty years. I have been praying for 
this," said his aged, widowed mother, " and now 
I can almost say. * Now lettest thou thy hand- 
maid depart in peace, for my eyes have seen thy 
salvation.' " 

It was but a few mornings after his conversion 
that I heard him tell a man who called for a 
glass of ardent spirits that he should sell none 
to him. On the same morning he told some of 
his friends, whom he met near the door of the 
church, that he had left pan of his family at 
home to remove the liquors out of bis bar, and 
that he was expecting to take brother Jones home 
with him after sendee, to knock down and remove 
the shelves on which the liquor had stood. >~ear 
the close of the day I was passing his house, and 
stepped into what had been his bar-room, where 
very many glasses of intoxicating liquor had been 
drunk. The liquor was gone, the shelves were 
removed, and the landlord was happy in God. 



Of ELBERT OSBORX. 



107 



I went in, drank a glass of water, and sung 1 a 
short song of praise. '-'The bliss of that hour 
was full." 

Soon after his conversion, he expressed a de- 
sire to have his birth- day (which would shortly 
occur) celebrated by a religious meeting in his 
own house. A large chamber, which had been 
used for dancing on such occasions, as well as at 
other times, was now to be occupied by an as- 
sembly met to worship God. Accordingly, an 
appointment was made, the congregation assem- 
bled, the room (which would hold perhaps two 
hundred persons) was entirely full, and the stair- 
way leading to the chamber was crowded with 
people, who appeared eager to hear every word 
which the preacher uttered. Many tears were 
shed by my hearers, and some by my own eyes 
during that sermon. Liberty being given for 
others to speak at the close of the sermon, the 
first person who rose was the sheriff. With 
streaming eyes, he said, I have often danced in 
this room, but the love of Christ now causes my 
heart to dance within me for joy.*' One after 
another arose and spoke a few words for the 
Lord. Many of them adverted to the seasons 
of vain mirth in which they had formerly parti- 
cipated, even in that very place. They told us, 
with deep emotion, how much better they en- 



198 PASSAGES IM THE LIFE 

joyed the service of God than they formerly did 
the vanities of the world. 

I must be permitted to mention one or two 
more instances in this revival. A young woman, 
who was among the first to manifest a desire to 
seek the Lord, remained sorrowful for a long- 
time ; while others found comfort who had more 
recently begun to call upon the Lord. She be- 
came almost discouraged. Her pious friends 
urged her to continue coming, with other mourn- 
ers, to the altar. For a time, their entreaties 
seemed to be in vain ; but at length she again 
took courage, renewed her supplications at the 
mercy-seat, and casting herself upon the merits 
of Jesus, she found the love of God shed abroad 
in her heart. 

An amiable young man, who held a military 
office of some importance, was often invited to 
seek the great salvation. For a time he seemed 
unmoved, though he continued to listen atten- 
tively to the word. His mind at length became 
more serious ; and the personal efforts of a neigh- 
bor, recently converted, were successful in bring- 
ing him to the cross of Christ. It was but a 
few days after he commenced going to the altar 
before God gave him peace of conscience, through 
faith in Christ Jesus. After having fought a 
lew years under the banner of Immanuel, he 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



199 



was called to lay down the sword and shield, 
and take up the golden harp and the palm of 
victory. 

An ao-ed man in the neighborhood, who had 
himself very generally neglected the means of 
grace, endeavored to liinder his awakened daugh- 
ter : but she sought and foimd the Saviour, and 
with tears besought Christians to pray for her 
father. Awakening mercy reached his heart at 
last, and he was willing to let it be known in the 
congregation. At an early hour on the follow- 
ing day I was requested by a young convert to 
visit this aged mourner, who resided near the 
house where I had lodged. I had proceeded 
but a few rods before I saw him coming toward 
me. His brother and brother's wife were just 
behind him ; while he, with gushing tears, ex- 
claimed as he walked along the street, "Pray 
for me, a poor old sinner ! pray that I may have 
a heart to pray for myself!" This was, indeed, 
a melting sight. We returned with him to the 
house where I had lodged, and united our sup- 
plications in his behalf till it was time to go to 
the house of prayer. In the course of a few 
days, this man was heard speaking of the good- 
ness of God to his soul. 

In one instance, when we were assembled to 
commence public worship, a man of near fifty 



200 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



years of age, who had been mourning dining 
some days, rose up before our meeting was open- 
ed, and told us what the Almighty had done for 
him in the course of the past night. His testi- 
mony was accompanied with shouts of praise. 
Our friends usually closed the evening service 
about nine o'clock; and they were reminded 
from the pulpit, more than once, that a suitable 
portion of sleep at proper times was necessary 
to the continued activity of body and mind. 

For thirty- three days in succession (with the 
exception of two days* only) there was public 
worship at eleven in the morning and at half-past 
six in the evening. In that time about seventy- 
five persons professed to find peace in believing. 
If my memory be correct, the number of mourn- 
ers who came to the altar on the last evening of 
our protracted meeting amounted to twenty or 
thirty. If it be asked why we closed our series 
of meetings while the prospect was still so very 
favorable, I answer, it was not because we were 
weary of cultivating Immanuel's lands. Neither 
was it because we had lost our confidence in the 
great Lord of the harvest, without whom he that 
planteth and he that watereth are nothing ; but 
the Macedonian cry from Port Jefferson became 

° Or one of those days there was worship at the church 
in the daytime, and on the other in the evening only, 



OF ELBERT OSBORN, 



201 



so loud and urgent, that we could not conscien- 
tiously refuse any longer to listen to that call. 

Should I attempt to be as particular in detail- 
ing circumstances in the other revivals which 
took place on Smithtown circuit as I have been 
with regard to East Middle Island, I should swell 
my narrative much beyond due bounds, and pro- 
bably tire the patience of many readers. Should 
I pass over those revivals in a very cursory man- 
ner, some might infer they were not very inte- 
resting seasons ; while some good brethren re- 
siding in those places, if they should read this 
book, might imagine that the author was not 
disposed to record the goodness of God to them 
and then neighbors. Both of these would be 
very incorrect inferences. Jhe kindness and can- 
dor of those brethren lead me to hope that they 
will draw no such conclusion. I will therefore 
try to be brief. 

At Port Jefferson the brethren resolved to 
"trust in the Lord and do good,"* and they 
found that their confidence and labor were not 
in vain in the Lord. God truly wrought wonders. 

Some may suppose that the Millerite excite- 
ment, which was very considerable at that time, 
in some places not far from our circuit, was the 

9 The first sermon at this meeting was preached from this 
text. 



202 



PASSAGrES IX THE LIFE 



means of commencing these revivals. But this 
is a mistake. There was but little agitation on 
this subject among us, while the revivals were 
going on powerfully. Even after the awakenings 
had to some extent subsided, all the efforts of 
those mistaken persons among us accomplished 
but little. The work of the Lord went on when 
the ministers were necessarily absent. At one 
time, when I was called away from Port Jeffer- 
son on Saturday afternoon, I said to the brethren, 
" The Lord will preach by his Spirit this even- 
ing." When I returned to them, on the after- 
noon of the next day, I found the church full of 
people, and learned to my joy that God had in- 
deed been working gloriously during the absence 
of his ministers. Men of standing and influence 
in the place were rejoicing in that Saviour who 
had just set their souls at liberty. Some of those 
men had not even asked the prayers of Christians 
when I left the place on the preceding day ; but 
in the evening of that day their hearts had melted 
before the Lord. Some of them have since 
proved the excellency of religion in the trying 
hour of death. 

The work spread eastward and westward from 
this place, and Methodist classes were formed 
both in Setauket and Mount Sinai from the fruits 
of this revival. At Stony Brook, where religion 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



203 



had been at a low ebb for some years, God con- 
verted a number of souls in a very short time. 
Several of the converts in these revivals were 
men that were heads of families, and some of 
them had publicly denied the Lord that bought 
them with his blood ; but now they fell at his 
feet, and acknowledged him to be Lord of all. 

In every appointment on the circuit we saw 
the work of the Lord revive ; and the reader can 
form some idea of the effects of those revivals 
when he is told that about three hundred and 
fifty were admitted on probation during that con- 
ference year, besides several who cast in their 
lots with other churches. The whole number 
of members at the commencement of the year 
amounted only to three hundred and sixty-three. 

If these pages should fall into the hands of 
any one who found the Lord in those revivals, 
and has now departed from him, let me say to 
that wanderer, " Come back to Christ ; why wilt 
thou forever die?" 

My colleagues during the second year of my 
labors on the Smithtown circuit were Rev. Nathan 
Rice and Rev. J. N. Robinson. We labored to 
build up believers, and young converts especially, 
by urging them to go on to Christian, evangelical 
perfection. 

While I was residing in Smithtown, I used to 



204 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



see occasionally the remnant of the boiler of that 
ill-fated steamer, the Lexington. It had been 
dragged from the place where it sunk to a place 
not far from the shore, by a company of persons 
who were using a diving-bell, with the hope of 
finding something valuable. At low water a part 
of the boiler was visible, and presented to my 
eye, as I walked alone on the sandy beach, a 
solemn memento of the uncertainty of human 
life, and the transitory nature of all sublunary 
objects. 

On the first day of May, 1844, I sat in the 
gallery of the Green-street church, in New- York, 
and saw the delegates of thirty-three annual con- 
ferences commence their responsible business as 
a General Conference. On the tw T enty-second 
of the same month I heard the Rev. Alfred Grif- 
fith, of the Baltimore Conference, make the fol- 
lowing motion in that body, which was seconded 
by the Rev. John Davis, of the same conference : 

"Resolved, That the Rev. James 0. Andrew 
be, and he is hereby, affectionately requested to 
resign his office as one of the bishops of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church." 

This resolution was introduced by a preamble, 
assigning reasons for this course. The subject 
was discussed for many days. As I was labor- 
ing on my circuit most of the time while the 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



205 



General Conference was in session, I heard but 
one or two of the sermons preached by the dele- 
gates, and but a small part of the debates. Some 
of the speeches in conference which I heard were 
very interesting to me. One of these was from 
Dr. Olin, president of the Wesleyan University. 
Another eloquent speech which I heard was de- 
livered by Rev. G. F. Pierce, of the Georgia 
Conference ; and I also heard a most eloquent 
reply to Mr. Pierce from Rev. Jesse T. Peck, of 
the Troy Conference. This reply was rendered 
still more effective by the kindness of spirit which 
it breathed, and the affectionate manner in which 
it was delivered. All these speeches, and many 
more, referred to the difficulties of Bishop An- 
drew's case, growing; out of that most difficult 
and troublesome subject — slavery. It is well 
known that these controversies resulted in the 
separation of the southern from the northern sec- 
tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

In the year 1844 my dear mother was called 
home from the valley of tears to the land of rest. 
I was in the house of God at Setauket, attending 
a protracted meeting, when the letter containing 
these solemn tidings was put into my hands. 
When I perused the account of her death, it 
brought forcibly to my mind the prayers which 
she had offered for me, and the tears which she 



206 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



had shed when advising*, admonishing, and en- 
couraging me in the work of my Master. After 
many years of extreme weakness, she died in a 
blessed hope of a glorious immortality. God 
grant that I may meet her happy spirit in the 
paradise of God ! 



OF ELBERT 03BORN. 



207 



CHAPTER X, 

NORTH HEMPSTEAD — HUNTINGTON — PLEAS- 
ANT VILLE. 

I now proceed to give a sketch of some of the 
circumstances which have marked the last five 
years of my life. There are some reasons, which 
will probably occur to most readers, which may 
incline a man who writes an autobiography to be 
more brief in a narrative of events which have 
recently transpired than he has been in describ- 
ing those which took place at an earlier period. 

The circuit now called North Hempstead is in 
Queens county, Long Island. It was formerly 
known by the name of Hempstead Harbor. So 
it was called when I went there in June, 1844 ; 
but in 1845 the name was changed to North 
Hempstead. The circuit included the following 
preaching-places : Roslyn, Norwich, Oyster Bay, 
Glen Cove, Buckram, Searingtown, Manhasset, 
Great Neck, and the Court-house. A local 
preacher by the name of Sweeney, (who has 
since died in St. Louis, and gone to his reward,) 
was my assistant during a part of the time. 
Brother 0. E. Brown was sent to labor with me 



208 PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 

during the second year of my continuance on the 
circuit. 

We were favored with a good revival in Glen 
Cove, and some awakenings and conversions in 
other places. The kindness of the people to me 
I hope never to forget. Especially do I recollect 
a family where I was detained by sickness for a 
number of days, and whose attention to me at 
that time excited my warmest gratitude. 

Near the end of the second year I was per- 
mitted to visit my old friends in Smithtown 
Branch, where I had formerly resided, and to be 
present when their beautiful new church was 
dedicated to the Lord of Hosts by Bishop Janes. 

About seven miles from my house lived an 
old minister of the gospel, who was waiting for 
his dismission. His name was John B. Matthias, 
well known in different parts by the older Meth- 
odists as having been a son of thunder. Al- 
though afflicted with blindness, yet I generally 
found him contented, thankful, and happy. As 
one of my sons was at a boarding-school in 
Hempstead, where this old soldier of the cross 
dwelt, I had occasion to visit the place several 
times, and generally endeavored to call on him, 
for I found it very profitable to my soul. 

Huntington circuit was my next field of labor, 
and Isaac Sanford was my colleague. His grand- 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 



209 



father had heard me preach my first sermon in 
1822, and his uncle was converted at a camp- 
meeting in 1824, which I well remember."* 
Huntington, Cold Spring, Northport, Woodbury, 
West Hills, and Lloyd's Neck, are the names of 
different places at which we preached Jesus 
and his salvation. Among other ministers from 
abroad who assisted us in striving to win souls 
to Christ, was the Eev. John Luckey. He kindly 
spent nine days with us, and our hearts were 
knit together like the hearts of David and Jona- 
than.f 

Some of the most pleasant seasons which I 
had among this people were in that romantic, re- 
tired spot called Lloyd's Neck. In the Revolu- 
tionary war many of the soldiers of Britain were 
buried in this place, far from the land of their 
birth and from the abodes of their friends. Here, 
within a few years, a Methodist society had been 
formed, whose meetings were generally crowned 
with much of the divine presence. 

While I was traveling North Hempstead and 
Huntington circuits, I attended three camp-meet- 

9 See page 78 and page 101 of Part I. of my Narrative. 

f Since I commenced writing these pages, I have been 
much cheered in learning that some gracious revivals have 
crowned the labors of my successors on the Huntington cir- 
cuit. Brothers Devinne and Hollis have seen the pleasure of 
the Lord prosper in their hands. 

14 



210 



PASSAGES m THE LIFE 



ings in Fanningdale, on Long Island, and one at 
Rye, in Westchester county. They were all very 
gracious seasons, and there were some striking 
displays of divine power and mercy. 

At Huntington I received a visit from a good 
old pilgrim, with whom my wife and myself had 
been well acquainted in the Smithtown circuit. 
Her name was Nancy Overton. Her willingness 
to confess her Master, her ardor in prayer, her 
kindness to the poor, her faithful warnings to 
sinners, her hospitality to the servants of the 
Lord, and her shouts of praise, will long be re- 
membered by many in Brookhaven and Smith- 
town. Soon after she made us that visit, the 
angels were sent to convey her to her heavenly 
home. 

At the conference of 1847 I was appointed to 
Pleasantville, in Westchester county. On my 
way to that place I passed near the grave-yard 
in White Plains, where lie the remains of A. Yan 
Nostrand. His pious conversation, more than 
fifty years ago, was the means of awakening the 
individual whose piety I have just been describ- 
ing. They have now met, I trust, in the king- 
dom of then Father. 

At Pleasantville I met with a very kind recep- 
tion. Though I was a perfect stranger to almost 
every individual, yet I never went to any place 



OE ELBERT OSBORN. 



211 



where I sooner felt myself perfectly at home. 
Brother M. Richardson was my presiding elder, 
and we had several very good quarterly meet- 
ings. Brother J. Luckey labored in Newcastle, 
about five miles from Pleasantville. Both of 
these charges were associated in one quarterly 
conference. During the two conference years 
there were two interesting revivals at Newcastle, 
and two at Pines Bridge, which was a part of 
brother Luckey's charge. We also had three 
showers of mercy in the Pleasantville charge. 
One was at a protracted meeting in October, 
1847, when we had some assistance from brother 
Redfield. In this meeting some were sanctified, 
and a few converted. In the following winter 
God commenced a good work in the west part 
of my field of labor, through the instrumentality 
of Henry Hobby, a local preacher in our society. 
In about a year from that time we had a good 
protracted meeting in Pleasantville church, re- 
sulting in the conversion and reclaiming of more 
than twenty persons. Brother Luckey co-operated 
with us in these meetings, and we were assisted 
to some extent by other ministers. The camp- 
meeting in Sing Sing in 1847, and another one 
in Pleasantville in 1848, were rendered useful 
to our society. 

At Sing Sing, a scene occurred on the last day 



212 



PASSAGES IN THE LIFE 



of the meeting which I shall long remember. 
Most of the people had retired from the ground. 
While a few were waiting for conveyances to 
their homes, a meeting for prayer, and speaking 
of the goodness of God, was held before the 
stand. It was a joyful season. But there stood 
a young man, leaning on the railing which sur- 
rounded this happy company, who wept pro- 
fusely. Mrs. Pease, of New- York, who knew 
the young man's mother in the days of her youth, 
requested me to speak personally to him. She 
also informed me that he was the son of a Meth- 
odist minister, under whose word I had often 
been refreshed thirty years ago. At first the 
young man seemed unwilling to yield to his feel- 
ings. Brother J. B. Wakely soon came to our 
help, and the youth bowed before the Lord and 
earnestly cried for mercy. Although that meet- 
ing closed before he obtained the blessing which 
he sought, yet, when I went from the ground, I 
left him in a tent on his knees, with sympathiz- 
ing friends around him, calling upon the Lord. 
When I next met him, he was rejoicing in God 
his Saviour. 

Not only were the camp -meetings, protracted 
meetings, &c, attended with the divine blessing, 
but many of our ordinary meetings were gra- 
ciously favored with the presence of the Great 



OF ELBERT OSBORN. 213 



Master. I think I have experienced more enjoy- 
ment in class-meetings in Pleasantville society, 
than in any other place where I have resided 
since I entered the ministry. 

I had the pleasure of admitting into full mem- 
bership several persons who had been received 
on trial by brother Pelton just before I went to 
that place. The whole number received on pro- 
bation by me while I was there was about seventy. 

For all the kindness manifested to me and my 
family, I desire to feel truly thankful ; but espe- 
cially I desire to return thanks to God for his 
great goodness. Would to God that all who 
read these pages may have an abundant entrance, 
through the merits of Christ, into the kingdom 
of God ! There may I be permitted forever to 
adore the mercy of the Lord of Hosts to me, an 

UNWORTHY SINNER SAVED BY GRACE. 



THE END. 



II 



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